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| April 2008 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 5 2009, 10:37 PM (3,966 Views) | |
| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:36 PM Post #286 |
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Author: sabor ice Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:12 pm Milan
Milan had never really been a self-conscious person up until recently. He had never questioned the way he thought nor did things nor looked. And he certainly had never had an occasion to question his voice. That, too, had been discovered only recently. If anyone but Mari had told him he 'had a nice voice,' he might've thought they were mocking him. He might've thought there was something wrong with the way it sounded. But he knew Mari would never poke fun at him in such a manner. In fact, hearing her approval only made him proud to own it, even if in his opinion he did sound a bit strange. For such a boyishly handsome young man, his voice seemed to have been taken from someone with many more years under his belt.
The glow of the warm firelight complimented Mari's features, making them appear even softer than usual somehow. There was a spark ignited behind her brown eyes, making it appear as if they danced while she looked down at him so affectionately. As he watched her in silent adoration, he was mesmerized by her natural beauty. His face gave everything away. He was undeniably smitten with her. "Neck..." Milan murmured against her soft hair, the word coming out more smoothly as he let it come naturally, unconsciously, and he cupped a hand at the side of her neck. She lifted her head then and he held her gaze. His hand dropped way from her neck, fingers then curling outward in gesture just at the laces of her bodice. "...Chest." |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:37 PM Post #287 |
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Author: golden_trillium Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:54 pm SUNRISE (MORNING) Linnette and Tristan It had been a bad night. Linnette was absolutely exhausted, but she had managed only scraps of fitful sleep. Some time before dawn, when the world was still dark, but when the sky in the east was edging towards gray, she gave up any more thought of rest and rose from her bed, her eyes swollen and droopy-feeling from both tears and lack of sleep. Gedeon had not come back to her in the night, as she had prayed and half-hoped he would. She had fantasized desperately that perhaps it was all a horrible mistake, that he was merely delayed, somehow, and would come slip into bed with her late, weary from the road and perhaps even wounded, but ready to wipe her tears away. But so far, at least, her hopes had been for nothing- he had not come. And there was no more point in lying here and pretending to rest, when no real rest was possible for her. She stood up stiffly, leaving Gedeon's saddlebags in the bed where she had been curled around them, and tried half-heartedly to pat her hair into place. It was still in its braids from yesterday, made messy by sleeping on them, but she had no desire to brush and redo the whole thing. She merely tucked some of the stray front strands behind her ears, then put on her cloak and went out. The ring was still on its string around her neck, of course- she closed her hand around it and gave it a protective squeeze as she left the room. The first thing in her mind now was to go and see Linnesse. However, at this early hour, there was no way she or Derfel would be awake yet. A brief listen at their closed door- without knocking- confirmed it. No sound came from within. Maybe she should try to eat. She left the knights' quarters, drawing her cloak around her in the cold, and crossed tot he back entrance of the kitchen, where the scullery boys still slept on thier pallets before the hearth. She was too early even for them. And though there was bread and cheese sitting out ready for breakfast, Linnette found she had no appetite to speak of. The thought of food made her mouth go dry as ash- why should she eat when Gedeon never could again? She took a small drink of water, but that was all. She could not stomach real food, now that she was confronted with it. Linnesse would be hungry, though, and needed to keep up her strength. Moving as quietly as she could, skirting the sleepers, Linnette assembled food on a tray, enough for two, along with two mugs of the juice that was in relatively short supply. Neeve had said Linnesse needed to drink- and what better to entice her to do so than a small luxury like this? Back at Linnesse and Derfel's room with the tray, Linnette once again listened at the door. No sound, of course- they were asleep, and they should be. Reaching for the door handle, she pushed the door open, as softly as she could, and set the tray down on the floor just inside the door. On the bed across the small room, Linnesse's fine, blonde hair spread out over the pillow; her face was turned towards Derfel's shoulder in sleep and their bodies made just one lump, not two, under the blankets. Linnette felt tears mist her eyes again and quickly turned her head away. She needed to get outside again- needed some air. And once she got outside again, she found herself climbing in search of it. The nearest stairs up to the ramparts beckoned to her, perhaps as a sort-of escape from the more mundane thigns below, perhaps because up there she would have a good view of the road, and of Gedeon returning, should he come. Perhaps because right over the main gate ha been the place where she and Gedeon had met. Perhaps. But in any case, she climbed up there, found a spot relatively far from any of the silent guards, and leaned her elbows on the parapet, gazing pensively down and outward, occasional tears dripping down, and drying on, her cheeks as she imagined and remembered. It was when she had been up there a while, long enough for her feet to be tired, her hands and face to be very cold, and for the sun to start peeking orange above the horizon that someone, very unexpectedly, tapped her on the shoulder from behind. She had heard no sound, no hint of anyone approaching. She jumped and turned around, her heart leaping with the sudden irrational thought that it might be Gedeon- but it wasn't. It was Tristan, the scout, standing there with is curiously blank eyes, a partially-sliced apple in one hand, a small eating knife in the other. Linnette could smell a hint of its juice, as well as the generally horsey, leathery smell that seemed to follow most of the knights. Looking at her intently, the scout raised the knife, and Linnette tensed suddenly, unsure what was coming next- but he paid her no mind, only calmy sliced another bite off the apple and held the small morsel out to her. Her reaction was automatic- she held out her hand to take it without even thinking about what it was. "Don't forget to eat," he advised her gruffly, dropping the moist piece of fruit into her open palm, then walking away without another word. Surprised and still not sure what to think, she watched his back as he walked away from her, down the wall past several guards, then around the corner to where he stopped and leaned on the parapet himself, looking out to the west, towards Woad territory. That was puzzling- that whole encounter. The taciturn scout had never said a word to Linnette before, not even on the mission to the Villa to rescue Linnesse. In fact, Linnette could probably count on one hand the number of times she had heard him speak at all, to anyone. He had always made her a bit nervous, and he certainly didn't seem the type to do random kindnesses- yet here was this bite of apple in her hand. But she couldn't eat it. Not even just that one bite, juicy as it was. It hardly looked like food to her- nothing did. With a restless, despairing sigh, she dropped it to the stone at her feet, wiped her fingers on a fold of her skirt, and slid down to a sitting position against the parapet, her knees drawn up and her cloak wrapped tightly around her. She couldn't eat, and the cold and the discomfort of hard stones didn't matter either. Except for Linnesse, nothing much mattered at all- now that Gedeon was gone. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:42 PM Post #288 |
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Author: Starbelle Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:35 pm Tatiana
"Yes, that's what I want." Tatiana replied watching as he stepped over to the bed leaving her standing next to the fire. "I really don't have that many friends here in the fort."
"Good, I'd like that as well, Brendyn." She replied walking over to the bed as the herbs did their work putting him into a restful sleep. Tatiana watched as his eyelids slowly closed over his dark blue eyes. After pulling the blanket up over her sleeping friend/patient tucking it under his chin and running a tiny hand through his hair on the pretext of checking his forehead, she leaned back slightly to watch Brendyn sleep then after retying her tunic, became aware of sleep finally stealing over her as well. "Sleep well, Brendyn. I'll see you in the morning." Tatiana said after placing a shy kiss on his cheek. Seeing the unused furs and after removing her ankle-high boots, leaned over and snatched one wrapping herself in it curled up next to him laying her head in the natural craddle of his neck and shoulder, allowing his soft breathing to lull her into a peaceful sleep. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:43 PM Post #289 |
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Author: lady ione Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:28 pm Adian He stirred and woke up slowly trying to gain his barrings and a sense of where he was. Sure as heck he was not in the woad camp any longer....The infirmary with a guard? Nice.... Adian felt ten times better after the drought induced sleep he had been put in. His dark heather grey eyes traveled to the window....not nearly dawn, but the winter dark greys of the sky told him the sunrise was close. He pushed with one arm to sit up....that was better. Adian went back to wondering how he had gotten into the infirmary...had the guard carried him here? That was nice of him. Should make it a point of buying him an ale later... A smile tugged at the young man's mouth, then the smile vanished. Where was Thorn? Surely someone had to have gone off and told her that he was found... Fiona. Perhaps Fiona knew....or Ione....or Javier... Where were they? No doubt still asleep? It was still early.... Not far off, Adian heard two people talking: one a very disitinct Hibernian accent and the other lower voice that he did not know (Dagonet and Saoirse). The one, Adian had heard before, but the other.... Adian just lie back on the bed, missing Juna and wondering if she was to the ocean yet, and if she had found her freedom. But mostly, he missed Thorn! He wanted to tell her so much that he loved her with every breath he had, and that he wanted to marry her in the Spring time.... |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:49 PM Post #290 |
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Author: Pinkie Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:17 pm Saoirse Saoirse would never say she knew Dagonet's pain in losing Gedeon, but she had a fair idea of how painful it was to lose someone that you loved. Everytime she thought of Gedeon there was a wrenching feeling in her heart and an equal tug on her conscience which made her feel like the worst soul that ever walked the land of Britain. The wrenching feeling was because she remembered how indescribably distraught she had been when she thought it was Dagonet who had been killed - and the tug on her conscience was because of the relief she felt when she admitted that it had not been Dagonet that was killed. It felt wrong to have felt such relief, such overwhelming joy to see him get out of that cart when that joy and relief was at the expense of Gedeon's life. That relief and joy was felt in equal but reverse measure upon Linnette. The red head shivered, watching Dagonet's head loll to one side and then the other. He was as weak as a kitten and Saoirse hadn't the faintest idea of how to fix him or to even try to make him strong enough to fix himself. His hurt was not something her anger could snap him out of. His anguish was not something that could be put on the backburner and forgotten about while they made love. He was broken. Dagonet's heart and spirit was broken and she had to fix it. Somehow. The weight of that task made Saoirse's shoulders slump and she felt that hysteria from earlier threaten once more. Ruthlessly she shoved it down knowing that when she was alone that she would pay the price for ignoring it. But that was not something she should worry about. Dagonet was her priority. Whatever else happened could just go and bloody well happen. Tears pricked the corners of her lovers eyes when he looked at her. Saoirse saw the shards of his heart so plainly scattered inside of him before he looked away, the tears rolling unchecked down his once proud face. She had to bite hard on her anger that fate would deal Dagonet such a hard hand in life, allowing him to speak.
Oh how she wanted to put her finger to his lips and stop him from speaking! The words were cutting thruogh her defenses, leaving raw and untended wounds in their wake but she had to pretend otherwise. She sniffed back tears, tensing her jaw as she stroked her hand down Dagonet's cheek, wiping the tears discreetly. She knew he was a proud man. She knew he would rather die than have people see him so weak, so destroyed and so she tried to shelter him. Saoirse crawled onto the bed next to him, curling her body around his upper body as best she could, cradling his head in one of her arms and balancing on one elbow, looking down into his tortured green eyes. "An' you're not." she told him quietly, her voice shaking as she was uncertain that she was saying the right thing. Swallowing hard, Saoirse persevered in the gentlest of tones, barely above a whisper. She pulled the sleeve of her tunic down over her hand and dabbed at Dagonet's face, blue eyes looking all about his face and not just at his eyes. "Wouldn't Gedeon want ye t'keep goin'? D'ye think he'd let ye stay lost? He wouldn't, Dagonet. Ye know he wouldn' because if ..." her voice broke and tears sprung to her eyes suddenly. Saoirse bit her upper lip, squinting her eyes shut to hold back the tears, trying to compose herself as best she could before continuing. "If it was the other way 'round...." her voice broke off, she couldn't continue on that train of thought whilst holding onto her sanity and reason right now but she hoped she got the message across to Dagonet nonetheless. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:51 PM Post #291 |
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Author: lady ione Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:26 pm Brendyn "Yes, that's what I want....I really don't have that many friends here in the fort....Good, I'd like that as well, Brendyn. All Brendyn had seen of her was when she walked over to the bed, tying her tunic back up and looking at him. Whatever she had given him had been potent and before his eyes closed, Brendyn hoped that he'd be able to get up in the morning. Slowly, his eyes shut in a welcomed sleep feeling his muscles relax...and her vice floating around in his mind...
...Somehow he felt himself being tucked in to bed, and the feeling of fingers running through the hair on his forehead. Checking for a fever no doubt. Then, the feel of lips on his cheek...He felt her lie on top of the blankets wrapped in a heavy fur pelt he suspected. An unconscious smile passed over his peaceful face as he felt her curel up next to him with her head cradled between his neck and shoulder... Brendyn stirred now, and opened his eyes and saw the grey streaks of light as the hour before dawn approached. Turning his head so as not at Awaken her, Brendyn watched Tatiana sleep, her soft breathing telling of the peace she was in. Antonius had always gotten his crew up at the crack of dawn to be ready for duty, so it was an instilled habit that he had to wake this early. Amazingly, he felt so much better than he had the night before, and with sleep and the care of a lovely young lady, Brendyn had recovered...sort of. His head still felt stuffy, but that did not inhibit the use of his arms and legs... Quietly, he worked his way out of bed, went over to the basin of fresh water, and washed himself, before putting on a new uniform and reminding himself to wash the other. Fixing his hair, he looked over at Tatiana as she continued to sleep. Softly, he walked over to the bed and knelt down on one knee to place a chaste kiss on her lips: soft and sweetly... Brendyn did not want to wake her, so he moved back, stood up and went to retrieve his sword and lance... |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:54 PM Post #292 |
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Author: Pinkie Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:53 pm Galahad Galahad couldn't remember any of the women he had bedded before Alina. He wasn't entirely sure why that was but the fact drifted through his subconscious as he breathed in the new scent of her. It was different though he could hardly put his finger on why it was different. He wasn't even sure if it was the scent of something she had used or if it was something inherently different in her natural scent. That was probably what made him think of 'other women'. Alina didn't smell like Alina, not the way he remembered her at least. Fascinated with this little revelation, Galahad slowly wrapped his arm about the woman's waist, his brow furrowed. One dark curl tripped down over his furrowed brow, stark against his pale skin as he trailed the tip of his nose from one side of her collarbones to the other, letting his blue eyes shut as he memorised the new smell.
And again! So oblivious to her hypertension and paranoia! Galahad gave a small, breathy snort of amusement at the manner with which she phrased it and he pulled back to smile at her. His smile was adorably childlike. The beard on his face looked glued on when he smiled like this because he didn't look old enough to grow it! His teeth were visible behind his slightly cracked lips as he peered at Alina's face. There was something to be seen there - a semblance of that tension, but Galahad blithely ignored it, thinking it was just a 'girl' thing. "Different." he answered her with a grin, leaning in with his eyes open, tenderly brushing his lips against hers. He pushed his nose in against her temple then, breathing in her scent heavily before chuckling. "You almost smell like a completely different woman now - if I couldn't see your face or hear your voice this might feel like infidelity..." he spoke against her ear, his eyes sliding shut as he dipped his head, kissing her slender neck with a growing passion, not really paying attention to his words at all. Kolya Kolya was relieved to see the sun come up. He had thought he might not actually live through the night so much pain was he in. He had thought about going back to his own room but he wasn't ready to face Mari. Plus, if he was going to die he would rather do it without having her harping on in his ear. Though thinking of Mari had made the Sarmatian feel that surge of paternal protectiveness once more. The one that made him want to rip out that mute boy's fucking tongue and shove his balls down his throat, ram a red hot poker up his a.. well, those things and many more other painful things too. So he had sat on the steps of the infirmary until his chest stopped bloody hurting and then he had wandered. The woads had retreated thankfully - Kolya kept an eye out as he wandered out of the fortress grounds and down the once familiar streets. There were people lurkign in windows, looking out terrified of the woads return. There were broken fences here and there, one house smouldered miserably - but overall there was little in the way of damage out here. The main hit had been in the fortress itself. The once familiar streets led him to a house he knew well. The door stood open and ... a fire burned in the hearth? Kolya went into Mari's old home and looked around rather bemused. It looked like someone had been living in the bloody place. This is where he had spent many a happy night with Mari's mother... the thought made him grin as he flopped down onto the uncomfortable mattress. It had been more comfortable with a woman in it with him he recalled. Still, it was a bed for the night. Even if the sleet was falling through a hole in teh ceiling. Sleep came to him eventually but fitfully. When he woke there was only one person whose face popped into his head. Alina. Damn her. He had done so well not to think about her. Of course thinking about her gave him a damn hard-on since that had been her intention on their last encounter. Right before they argued and he had stormed out. Rolling his blue eyes, Kolya rolled over on the bed and stared at the wall with his lips pursed. He wondered if she was canoodling with her lover now. He also wondered, with the beginnings of a smirk, if her lover was as skilled between her legs as he so obviously had been. With a wry chuckle, satisfied with his deviant thoughts, Kolya rolled back onto his back and looked at the brightening sky. Eala It had been a very, very long night. Eala had been too exhausted to keep up her snarling and biting the whole night. Her black eyes watched the shadows warily. She knew someone would come for her. She knew Ash would come for her. Somehow she knw that he would be there for her and take her out of the stinking rotten cold cell she was in now. The shadows shifted as the dawn broke. The little blonde girl was still laying naked by the cell door, an arm stretched out underneath it to remind people that she was there. She could admit it to herself that she was scared that they would forget about her completely. And what could she do about it? She couldn't cry out the way others had done so in the night. Though her hearing was practically non-existant, she had picked up some things throughout the night. She had heard a scream. It had rattled through her normally quiet mind and shocked her, making her sit up. Her whole body ached. Her arm was bent at an odd angle and she couldn't straighten it. It had her hand feeling a bit ... strange to say the least. Her fingers tingled. Shivering, Eala stood up, leaning against the door, her cheek pressed to the bars as she peered up and down the bleak corridor, waiting. A guard had passed in the middle of the night, a bearded man and she had snarled at him, slamming her naked, small body against the cell door. But he had barely noticed her as he continued on down the line. There had been some more noises but Eala couldn't make sense of them. They might have been voices but with her muted hearing as bad as it was, it only sounded like rumbles to her. People passed back the other way and this time Eala sat back away from the bars, snarling quietly at them, poisted and ready to spring at them should they open the cell door. Which they didn't. Morning light streamed a little way down the corridor though not far enough to reach Eala's cell. She was sitting by the door again. Her bruised face was a mess. A dark swelling had one eye almost sealed shut, her bottom lip was torn and there was an egg-sized bump on one side of her forehead - and that was not making mention of the bruises and scrapes around the rest of her body. The bruise around her shoulder was quite hideous too - and there was the obvious imprint of a boot on her pale stomach which was twitching with pain. Hunger. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:55 PM Post #293 |
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Author: sabor ice Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:07 pm Alina
Alina choked on her own saliva and coughed lightly into the back of her hand. Galahad's arms slid further down about her waist and his passion grew a bit more persistent as he kissed her neck. If her hands had been doing anything other than resting lifelessly between their bodies, or her arms had been doing anything more than clinging rigidly to her form, she would've appeared to be pushing away his advances instead of merely succumbing to them listlessly. It couldn't have been paranoia. He knew something, oh surely he did! This was pure and utter torture. She was practically squirming in his lap, and yet he went on as if everything was normal. She wanted the Gods to smite her and be done with it. She wanted someone to come to the door and interrupt - anyone - even if it was Kolya. She'd then have a good excuse to leave the room for a short time at least, claiming to Galahad that Kolya was one of her patients recuperating from the sickness that had struck the fort. And then once Alina had that man alone, she would kill him for all of the unnecessary grief he had deliberately brought into her life. "Ahem...um...Galahad..." she murmured. As she craned her neck to the side to find and meet his gaze, Alina swore she had briefly hallucinated, seeing Kolya's face instead of Galahad's. Now she lightly protested Galahad's embrace, and gently pushed herself away from him. She inadvertently glanced toward the window and noted that it was becoming increasingly lighter outside. "Oh look...it's morning already," she added in a weak attempt to direct the attention away from her as she awkwardly stepped away from him. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:56 PM Post #294 |
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Author: Pinkie Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:21 pm Galahad Maybe it was ego that had Galahad so oblivious to the fact that Alina just sat on his lap without moving, without embracing him back or without any sign of affection. He was quite content with his lot right now as he kissed her, felt her warmth, built things up to the stage where they would both be writhing around on the bed in acute pleasure. Or so he thought. He was still rather wounded so he knew he would pay a price for it, of course, but he didn't, for one minute, imagine that Alina was an unwilling or uncomfortable partner to this. When she started to cough against her hand, Galahad pulled back quickly, looking at her through narrowed blue eyes. He took note of the tension about those soulful brown orbs and cocked his head to the side, bottom lip pouting in wonderment as he puzzled out her reaction. Which only got worse.
She squirmed at first. Galahad's lips parted as he was about to ask her what was wrong - and then she popped up off his leg like a scalded cat. The Knight frowned, teeth snapping shut in surprise as he watched her look to teh window and comment on .... morning? What the ... ? The young knight sat there a moment - the only noise being Alina's rather rapid breathing and the crackling of the fire. Blue eyes assessed his lover- looking her over for any sign of injuries that might account for her rather strange behaviour. But he could only really notice the bruise on her jaw. Perhaps it had been a harder knock to the head than he had given credit for earlier? "Ahm... yeah. That happens all the time you know... ? Night ends, morning starts. Or hadn't you noticed?" Galahad asked sarcastically though there was no sting in his tone as he gave a lopsided smile to the edgy woman standing in front of him. He reached out his large hands and placed one on her stomach, the other on her lower back. "Are you ok love? You seem a bit ... " Galahad's eyes widened and his hands lifted to either side of his head, fingers wiggling as if to indicate a slightly maniac ticking of his brain, wondering if Alina was just a little edgy thorugh lack of sleep, food or good loving in his absence. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:58 PM Post #295 |
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Author: sabor ice Date: Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:07 pm Alina
Was he making fun of her? Sure she knew she probably looked like a fool and sounded like an idiot right about now, but having the mental capacity to string together coherent thoughts for any extended amount of time had gone out the window two or three days ago. She needed someone to tell her that these situations happened, that these things, like with Kolya, happened. She needed to be reassured that some things could be forgotten and people could be forgiven for their mistakes and move on. She needed to believe that she didn't care about Kolya enough to destroy all that she had built with Galahad. Life just wasn't working out according to her plan, though.
Alina pursed her lips into a tight, unamused line as she watched his animated hand illustrations. "I seem a bit what? Tense? Hypertensive? Crazy?" she unintentionally snapped. She placed a hand at the back of her hip, the other waving flippantly in the air as she paced away from him again. "Yeah, maybe I am just a little bit crazy. I guess I'd have to be, wouldn't I? I am crazy. Thank you for asking." Everything had just gotten progressively worse and Alina internally scolded herself, because now she'd have to explain herself to him. Under the circumstances, however, Alina felt she had been handling herself rather well up until this point. She absentmindedly tugged at her bottom lip with her thumb and forefinger, as she often did when she was troubled, and idly she wondered if claiming temporary insanity might've been the easiest solution out of the tangly, poisonous web she had woven herself into. She sighed, having to face the fact that she had nothing. "Nevermind...I'm fine..." Alina added morosely, brows stitched in consternation. She turned back toward a slightly stunned looking Galahad, her features and voice softening then. "Really. I'm fine. I'm just tired." There it was again - the sad, pathetic, 'tired excuse.' Ultimately she was tired, exhausted mind and body, but she couldn't find rest. At least not as long as the guilt continued to eat her up inside. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 15 2010, 09:59 PM Post #296 |
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Author: LadyCastus Date: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:45 am Malcus Barbattus Barbattus stretched his legs and rolled his shoulders, throwing his cloak on the back of a chair in his office. He'd just completed his roll call for the morning and held the daily briefing with his squad commanders. Everyone knew their assignments for the day including the double watch ordered by Artorius. Now Malcus sat behind his desk and focused on the things he needed to get done. First of all, he would handle the situation with the woad prisoner and make sure that she that she was seen by the healers. Quintus had informed Malcus of the wild, crazy child being held in the dungeons as well - something Malcus knew nothing about. That foul beast Mordred had captured her himself. Barbattus twirled his dagger, checking the sharpness of the tip, thinking about those two buggers Mordred and Amadeus. Bastards. Malcus didn't like either one of them. The commander didn't trust them - like they were up to something. Barbattus was a great reader of human nature and something about those two stank to high heaven. But he couldn't put his finger on what, exactly. Dismissing those two idiots from his conscience and securing his dagger hipside, Barbattus rose from behind his desk and summoned his first assistant with a shout. "Titrus!" he yelled into the outer office, "Come!" The lieutenant filled the doorway of the office, "Oy, sir!" "We have a hell of a lot things to do today, Titrus," Malcus sighed. "First of all, there are two female woad prisoners that need looking after. I want them to be seen by a healer immediately, then fed and clothed" Malcus said. "I also have a punishment to administer." Titrus nodded, understanding what that meant and held back a shudder. Malcus also wanted to see Arthur if he could. Barbattus was concerned about his friend's condition and hoped he would receive visitors. He also wanted to consult with some of the knights to talk about the attack on the road in further detail and perhaps increase his patrols and rotations around the areas of the wall. But first things, first. "Titrus, gather Lucius Aquila. I want him to go with you." Neeria Neeria opened her eyes slowly and was relieved to see that it was finally morning. The small window allowed a small bit of light to light up the dreary cell. The woad's muscles ached and she was stiff and sore. She was alive though and that was something. Neeria's stomach threatened to flip on her, a combination of bad smells and hunger assaulting her senses at the same time. Slowly, she stood up, taking her time as her body ached all over. Neeria wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, covering her exposed breasts. The guard had ripped her breast straps right from her body when he'd tried to rape her. The anger rose in her. She was not her best or she would have fought harder. When the woad was upright, she stretched long and hard, trying to stretch out the cramps in her arms and feet. The action was excrutiating and she nearly screamed out from the pain. Neeria checked the wound on her side which was now angry and even more painful. She touched it and smelled her fingers. Infection had set in. She wiped the pus away and rubbed her hands on her pants. Neeria paced about the small room, thinking about all that had happened. She thought of Merlin, hoping that Mona had delivered the message. Would they come for her? Had Merlin survived the attack? What of Guinevere? Ash? Eala and all the others? Sinking back to the floor, Neeria said a prayer for her dead husband, Mikel. Suddenly, thoughts of the scout came to her, "Tris-tan", she said aloud. She'd been so terrified when he'd first left her there. Then she thought of the Roman who, the previous night, promised to send help for her. She could not recall his name, she didn't want to. He was a Roman - the true enemy - and couldn't be trusted. Neeria was sure that what he'd told her was all lies. No one would come for her and the guard would not be punished as the Roman promised. She was sure of it. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 16 2010, 09:49 PM Post #297 |
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Author: Pinkie Date: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:15 am Catherine The sun was rising on the other side of the walls of Badon Hill. Inside the grounds of the fortress, protected by the high, crenellated stone, things were still dark. There was the unforgiveable stench of burning and a general hubbub of industry as people roused and started to put their homes and lives to rights once more. Catherine felt pity for those whose homes had been ruined but she ensured to keep a safe distance for fear that she would get smoke stains or ash on her anywhere. The hood of her cloak was pulled up by way of protection against the cold and drizzling rain that seemed a permanent fixture nowadays. Hazy green eyes lifted to the parapets of Badon Keep, peering along the walkways, her gaze beseeching the sun to shine upon her and offer some let-up to the misery but instead of sun she saw shadow. A glint of something in the shadow. Catherine cocked her head to the side and felt her stomach tighten with anticipation. She was almost certain she knew what was in the shadows. Quickening her step, the young woman came to the steps of one of the turrets and smiled up at the man lurking there in the shadow. Tristan. Catherine lifted her hand, twisting a lock of golden hair about her finger and trailed the ends of the twisted strands against her parted, moist lips. Her face was being hit by the sleet-like rain but with her skin as clean as it was, her appearance as angelic as it was, the little drops of rain looked like diamonds. She had nothing really to say to the scout - and she had observed him in the tavern often enough to know that he did not really ... like relationships. Not that that was what she was looking for! Oh by the gods no! But she did want to bed him, she wanted to get inside of his head for a little bit, to worry out a description of the lands of Sarmatia in the East where they tattooed his face with those black marks. A gentle, serene smile lifted her still parted lips and Catherine moved up two steps, narrowing her green eyes at Tristan. "Knights are not usually stirring so early after a mission." she noted in her sing-song, whimsical voice. "Or should I not comment on such things?" Catherine purred, letting the Knight know that if she would do as he bid - of course that was just a show. Catherine would think of them always but she would just not let Tristan know that she did so. She could be for him whatever he wanted her to be - so long as he told her something, anything about his homeland. Galahad:
It was just a question! Galahad's mouth opened into a small 'o' shape, his blue eyes as big as frisbees as he looked at Alina going crazy. She paced and he followed her with his eyes. His initial, defensive reaction to her snapping was somewhat overshadowed by her genuine maniac movements, silencing Galahad for the time being. And what did she mean by that exactly? 'I guess I'd have to be...' ? What did that mean? The Knight frowned, the 'o' shape becoming a little puckered as he reflected on all the meanings behind that. Did she mean she'd have to be a bit crazy to be with him? Was he responsible for her being crazy? For the sake of all the gods! He hadn't even been around her for the past few days - how was this all of a sudden his fault?! So he had been gone when she needed him after the death of her cousin -- it wasn't like he wanted to be anywhere else but with her now was it? He had to go. Galahad's youthful face turned surly and petulant as Alina tugged her bottom lip.
The young Knight could accept that as an excuse but it didn't make him feel any better. He looked at Alina, frowning a little, his eyes still rather wide after her outburst and his body deathly still, half afraid to move in case it sent her off again. Sniffing, the knight shrugged, calling himself all kinds of a fool for being afraid of Alina's rage. It wasn't like she was the kind of girl who would throw a punch or anything. "I was just asking..." he mumbled sourly, looking down at his abdomen. He was sitting slouched so the muscles in his stomach were compacted tightly together, straining the edges of the wound. Galahad made a conscious effort to sit up straighter, still not looking at Alina while he thought if he should ask what she had meant earlier. He wasn't really in the mood for a fight. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to touch her and do things that they used to do before but she was all.... edgy. Which made that difficult. "Hey ... what did you mean when you said you'd have to be crazy... ?" he asked her with a quick glance up at her pretty face, the barest hint of suspicion in his eyes though not for the reasons Alina would think no doubt. He was just suspicious that he was the reason she was a little bit crazy. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 16 2010, 09:50 PM Post #298 |
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Author: golden_trillium Date: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:38 am Merlin He had dreamed. He knew that much, but now, as waking stole over him, the pictures and images that only moments ago had been so vivid in his consciousness receded, tantalizlingly out of reach. He might very well remember them later. Or he might not, but either way, the images would remain in his subconscious, part of him, even if he did not fully realize what they were. The Gods sent the dreams- sent them to educate him and show him the way, sometimes even to reprimand him. But this one was gone. Merlin rolled over, back onto his side, back towards his companion on the pine bough bed. He had moved a little away from her in the night, but now he returned to the warmth and the indefinably feminine scent. He slid an arm over her again, under the furs, and pulled her close, his lips going automatically to the back of her neck, and his hips pressing forward subtly against hers. Whatever that dream had been- it had left him aroused. Or maybe that was just Juna. The light coming in through the small cracks in the shelter walls was dim yet- they had a little time, though not much. He lifted his head, leaning over to kiss her cheek, then her earlobe. "Juna," he whispered, very softly, his breath warm on her skin. Tristan
"Hmmm?" Tristan raised his eyebrows and regarded the blonde woman. He had been very surprised- though not displeased- to see her coming along the wall towards him, and now was even more surprised that she would approach him. She didn't seem nervous at all, nor was it the usual time for whores to be soliciting custom. And what was that question supposed to mean? No woman asked if she should talk, in Tristan's experience; they just talked. Talked, whether a man wanted to hear it or not. She was even lovelier up close, though, especially with the rain beading her skin. Very beddable. Extremely- provided she dispensed with the nonsensical questions. "Not the usual time for your kind, either," he commented, shrugging and turning back to the parapet, looking over it out into the misty, drizzling woods. If she was not prepared to take a customer, she'd leave, after that; but if she was, she'd let him know, and then perhaps they could talk business. He felt his groin stir in anticipation at the thought, but gave no outward sign- just another questioning glance in her direction. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 16 2010, 09:50 PM Post #299 |
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Author: Kay Date: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:15 am Guinevere Guinevere opened her eyes, blinking in the pale morning light. The encampment was waking, she could hear voices and the sounds of people moving, outside. The dark woad sat up and stretched her aching limbs, wincing as the bruises and scrapes she had acquired during the battle made their presence felt. A hot bath would be wonderful, but that would have to wait. Her heart began to race in anticipation when she thought of their mission; maybe Ash would signal for help today. She got to her feet and drew back the canvas of her shelter, peering outside; a light rain was falling. Swiftly, she donned her disguise, drawing the hood over her head, and stepped out into the new day. |
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| golden_trillium | Mar 16 2010, 09:53 PM Post #300 |
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Author: Unicorn Date: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:26 pm Dagonet Her hand went to his cheek slwoly wiping out his tears... but even if shou would do it whole day and night there was no force, which could stop him crying. His heart could not stop beating with that heavy feeling of pain. His mind could not stop showing him the images of Linnette's broken face and image of blood that he saw on the battlefield. His body could not stop aching from pain... His soul could not stop breaking.. Saoirse slipped to his side and curled against his upper body. Her arms went to held his head in that protective matter. Dagonet was greatful for this... He was greatful that she thought of hiding him behind her, as he could not do it himself. He wished he would be srtonger... That he would just go to his room and hide from whole world. But fate wanted it other way. His wounds were severe and he knew it... He could do nothing by himself.. and it brought additional pain to his proud heart. He still tried to avoid her eyes.. but in the position they were in it was impossible to hide from her sight. He locked his eyes in hers with that pained expression of his broken soul. Gods! How he wanted to be with her alone only? Not in this damned place...
Worry frown of pain deepened on his face. He was not gone.. He was here... He was injured but alive. Had not Gawain said the same thing? That he had to go on. That he won't let him fall... Dagonet breathed hard at her words and closed his eyes briefly in pain, tasting the bitterness of truth in Saoirse's words. He was here... alive... But how was he suppose to live knowing that it should be he, lost in the battlefield and his son returning to his wife, rising up his child, having family, building his future. What Dagonet had? No freedom... No family of his own... No faith... No hope... No future... Only death sneaking up to him.. waiting for his fall, for his mistake to claim him. The only thing, which he had was love. Love to Saoirse and her love. Nothing more... Or nothing less. He should not let Gawain and Derfel take him back.. He should stay there... How many times he thought in this way? Too many...
This time her voice broke.. it was her face in pain and her eyes closed shut on the upcoming tears. He listened with that thight, heavy weight in his chest. He undestood what she was saying.. He understood what she wanted to let him know... He understood why this forced her to these emotions. The mere thought of him not returning was the same hurt Linnette was enduring right now. Dagonet knew it and it added to his pain also... The tall knight breathed hard and slowly, weakly moved his bandaged hand to rest on Saoirse cheek, gently, yet very weakly. "You're... right" he admitted but still it was very hard to say it. He briefly closed his eyes and let new tears go down his face. "I've wanted... to stay... I've wanted to die back there, Saoirse." he whispered and shook lightly his head. "The only thing.. that kept me from.. giving up was... Gawain's and Derfel's voices telling..me that you are here...." He let out a deep sigh at the rememberence of past days... "That I need to.. return.. to be there for you... To be there for others... To go on... To be strong" he added, but his eyes went down in guilt and regrett. "I am not strong.. not anymore." Dagonet felt his heart beating a little harder and harder against his ribs, like an animal in thight cage. He wanted to let it out... to let his feelings go and just be free of the pain he was feeling. "Where's.." his voice broke for a second before he contiuned. "Where is the point.. of living now? All I have is pain..." he looked up at her with those hurted eyes searching for her answer... searching for sense in his life. In the back of his mind he hoped she could say that he have her.. that he had love... Love was a strong argument to live for. He hoped that she could find a sense for living for him. He hoped that she will show him his path... Make him strong again... Mirtha Ione also dressed herself, but he noticed that her eyes weren't leaving him for a longer moment. Did she expected this to be longer? Did she expected him to throw everything to please her...? and himself? He would... Heavens above and Earth beneath that he would... if not for the damned wine and his duty!
Her sympathetic smiled made him smile broadly and without shame. He almost laughed at her words. He was a drinken... He drunk too much... too often and too hard. He knew that... but could not help himself. She reached down for her cloak, covered her slim body and returned to him. His hands went without hesitation to her waist and held her gently as she looked up into his eyes.
This time he laughed... He was drunk still and not everything came to his mind clearly. Help him stop drinking? Control it? Care for him? Since when? Mirtha shook his head and scratched his neck, but her hands were already on his face and put her passionate kiss over his lips. He replied to her with the same passion.. or even more... When the kiss broke he once more looked into her eyes with a sincere frown. "I care for you too..." he fired away... it just came to his tongue! "But... I don't think that anybody can help me in drinking issue." His smile slipped away from his face. "This is keeping me alive, you know... Even if there is a huge headache afterwards!" She moved away to the exit and he found himself staring at the floor... thinking about what had she said... Help him to stop or at least control his drinking... Was it possible? His voice was already wrecked from drinking... his throat sore on the day he had no drop of wine of ale in him... His body wrecked beyond repair... his hands trembling sometimes, and he knew it was because drinking, but refused to admitt it. He needed help.. but how could she help him? He was beyond help, he thought...
"Hmmm?" Her question caught him off guard and he turned a surprise look at her... Corners of his mouth started to twich in a smile. If she only knew that she was the first woman after so long.. not counting Thorn, who died before they could do anything. He blinked few times and nodded his head slowly. "You pleased me Ione." he answered. "Hugely..." |
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