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April 2008
Topic Started: Nov 5 2009, 10:37 PM (3,959 Views)
golden_trillium

Admin
Author: LadyCastus
Date: Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:11 pm
Neeria


Neeria steadied herself as Eala held onto to her waist
tightly. When the Roman knelt down to loose the chains around
the girl's feet, Neeria yelled at the other soldier who had
shoved her.

"She does not hear, you idiot! She could not hear you! That is
how you treat a child?! Do you hate us that much?"

The older woad was tired and weary, it was all she could do to
hold herself up. Neeria ran her fingers through Eala's matted
hair, trying to reassure the child. She studied the marks and
bruises on Eala. Poor thing, what on earth has happened to
you? Eala seemed to respond to Neeria's touch because the
child gently stroked the older woman's hip. Such a small
action, seemingly so insignificant, warmed Neeria to her core
and at that moment in time she longed to be back among her
people where she would be safe.

Neeria finally took notice of the two other girls in the room
and wondered who they were. They stared at Neeria with
fascination as though they'd never seen anything like her
before. Neeria imagined that she must look frightening to
them. Her blue war paint was smeared on her body along with
dried blood. Dirty straw stuck out of her hair from the filthy
pile in her cell. She was dirty, smelled awful and was still
missing a boot. If not for the blanket, her breasts would be
exposed and her leather pants were torn in several places. She
cringed at how she must look to the little girls.

Shan-ti, please come for us, she thought to herself.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: golden_trillium
Date: Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:28 pm
Linnette


Drake
 
”Fine. I heal quickly.”


In spite of herself, Linnette glanced shrewdly up at Drake,
one brow arched in naked skepticism. Now that was a brush-off
if she had ever heard one! No one healed that quickly, and
from such a wound, too. She had an impulse to deny it, to call
him on that falsehood, but a quick flash of Kolya’s mocking
words of yesterday stopped her. Was Octavius just being tender
with you? She turned her gaze quickly away from Drake again,
stung and humiliated by the memory of those words, and by the
undeniable truth of them. For them to care for each others’
hurts too much gave the wrong impression. In fact, that might
be at least part of the reason why Drake was heading off her
question now. And what could she do for him, anyway?
Chastened, she kept her gaze down, as Drake continued.

Drake
 
”Arthur Castus wants to see you. That’s why I came up
here. I was looking for you. I will take you to him, but
not until you are ready.”


His tone was suddenly forbidding, and Linnette shrank a bit
under it, wincing away from him with a pained, and suddenly
sad again, expression on her face.

“Arthur? I’m…I’m a wreck,” she murmured ashamedly, looking
down at her sorry, soaking wet, bedraggled state and
disarrayed hair with a feeling of increasing hopelessness and
despair. She could scarcely appear before the commander of the
whole fort looking like a beggar- yet even the simple tasks of
tidying herself up seemed like an insurmountable barrier right
now. She let out a shaky breath that was almost another sob,
and scrubbed at her forehead and eyes with one hand, not
meeting Drake’s eyes still. He would wait until she was ready?
She would never be ready. She would always be like this, tears
in her eyes, lump in her throat, hair straggling, unfit for
normal company and activities. And with Gedeon gone, what
reason was there to be otherwise?

Her shoulders drooped with despair; but even as she was
strongly considering just sitting back down right where she
was and giving up, not going anywhere, just staying here until
she turned into a block of ice- something was set about her
shoulders, something heavy that hung down. Something red and
tattered at the edges. Something damp, but dryer than she was,
and which instantly added an extral layer of warmth between
her and the chilly wind. Someone- Drake of course, who else
was there?- cleared his throat, and Linnette looked up in
surprise, her hand going automatically to her neck to clasp
the cloak shut there and ensure that it stayed around her. It
was his cloak. He had just given her his cloak. The
realization came rather slowly, but with the import of
something significant.

"You...it's all right, you didn't..." she tried a protest, but
as if of its own accord, her hand that held the cloak clasped
tighter, little inclined to let the extra layer go. Perhaps
she had been colder than she realized...she should go in. And
she certainly shouldn't make Drake stand there in the rain
without a cloak any longer. He was frowning now, still clearly
unhappy, and indicating the steps with what Linnette thought
was obvious impatience. Well, fine. They would go, and after
she had seen Arthur, she would go back to Linnesse, who would
surely be wondering where she was, if she was awake yet.

"Let's go." It was barely a murmur, her eyes returning,
downcast, to the stones in front of her, but she started for
the stairs and led the way down them, the hand at her throat
now clasping both cloak edges and the ring on the string
around her neck as though they were both essential links to
sanity.










Linnesse

Derfel
 
“You should probably go first, luv. I doubt your sister
is too keen on seeing my face."


"Derfel," Linnesse rolled her eyes at him tolerantly at his
self-deprecating comment. "She appreciates what you're doing-
really. Or she will." There was no doubt of that at all in
Linnesse's mind. Linnette was in mourning, and had the right
to not quite act herself, but she hadn't said anything to
criticize Derfel at all, now had she? And who could fail to
see what a sincere effort he was making? Well, except when he
made veiled comments like that. That was just a tinge annoying
for Linnesse, if she were to tell the absolute truth- but for
now, she put it out of her mind, in favor of knocking softly
on the door, and then, when there was no answer, pushing it
open very slowly and carefully and peering inside.

There was no one immediately in sight, and no sound either.
Her brows drawn together into a slight knot of worry, Linnesse
pushed the door the rest of the way open, to reveal a
perfectly empty room. The fire looked like it had been cold
for some time, perhaps even never lit last night- but the bed
had been slept in. The covers were rumpled back, never made up
after their occupant had last left- but sitting on the bed,
and half-covered by the blankets as though they had been there
while Linnette was sleeping, were a pair of saddlebags that
could only be Gedeon's, their flaps drawn closed. She hadn't
unpacked them- but she had slept with them?

"Derfel, look..." Linnesse's voice was sad this time, and
pitying, as she beckoned Derfel forward and pointed towards
the rather pathetic sight on the bed. She must have had an
awful night- and Linnesse had not been there, having pretty
much collapsed with exhaustion herself as soon as her head
touched her own pillow! Guilt gnawed at her, savagely even
though she knew there was little enough that could have been
done about it; Linnette had been determined to leave her and
Derfel alone. But they had to find her now- had to find her
and make sure she was all right, give her the support and
company she needed!

"Er...the chapel next, and then the tavern? The chapel's
nearer," Linnesse suggested to Derfel, a tinge of desperation
coloring her voice. Her sense of urgency was rising quickly,
tired as she still was- they had to find Linnette!
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: LadyCastus
Date: Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:40 pm
Malcus Barbattus


Malcus signed off on the last roster and told the squad
commander to get the hell out of his office. The man went
running.

"Where in the bloody fuck are they?" Malcus screamed at no one
in particular. The commander was in a foul mood and was not
happy the way his day had started. He'd sent Lucius, Titrus
and Brendyn to the infirmary with the prisoners what seemed
like hours ago (even though in actuality it was a very short
time) and he was convinced they should have been back. Malcus
was still rattled that the little crazy woad girl had actually
gotten to his dagger. That should have never happened! If he
hadn't had to beat the guard senseless, he would have had
better wits about himself. It was that damned randy guard's
fault that it happened, he assured his ego.

Impatient and not wanting to sit around waiting, the commander
grabbed his cloak, slung it around his broad shoulders and
stormed from his office. He stomped down the long narrow
hallway and through the wide door into the cold, gray morning.
Where the hell is the sun? he cursed. He had a million things
to do instead of chase after wayward soldiers. At the top of
the list, he wanted to find out about Arthur. He was concerned
about his friend and needed to find out what was going on with
him. He also wanted to speak with some of the knights and get
an account of what happened on the road. He'd lost 8 men
during that attack! Fucking woads! he fumed. Barbattus also
wanted to check on his horse, Falco, and exercise him if
possible. But first, he headed in the direction of the
infirmary to track down his charges.











Titrus

Titrus, slowing working through his rage, began unlocking the
chains from around the little's girls ankles and stood back
up, poised to capture her should she try to escape. He was
well aware that she was a child and that there were also two
other children in the room and he didn't want to scare any of
them any further. He had five girls of his own. Much to his
relief, when he removed the chains, the little girl didn't try
to run at all, she continued to cling onto the older woad.

Titrus looked at Brendyn and shook his head. He stood close to
Brendyn and locked his hard brown eyes onto the young soldier.

"You're lucky the gods favor you today, boy, and that I'm in a
good mood. I'm not going to tell Commander Barbattus what
happened here but you're ordered to hard labor for 3 days. I
hope you don't mind the smell of shit because that means
latrine duty for you. You're lucky I don't make you dig a
trench around the wall."

Titrus stepped back from him and looked at Lavinia and smiled.

"My apologies again, sister. Now how about looking after these
prisoners. God will smile favorably upon you."

Then he winked at the little girls.
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golden_trillium

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Author: linnet
Date: Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:21 pm
Mother Lavinia


Brendyn
 
"We have our orders. The prisoner is to remain chained
and is considered dangerous. While she is in my custody,
she remains chained...I don't care if you are the Pope
of Rome. Until I have my orders to release her, she
remains like this, and they both will be returned to the
dungeons as per the Commander's orders! Do you
understand me? You are sorely mistaken nun. The chains
will not be removed, nor do I intend to remove them. Do
not make me report you for interfering with Roman law.
Now, take the woman and treat her so that we can send
her back to the dungeons..."


Lavinia looked at the soldier as if he were daft. She let him
go on, snorting in disgust at his remark about reporting her.
She was familiar enough with Roman legion rank and standing to
know that the boy was pulling his own noose a little tighter
with each word. A lowest level soldier did not grandstand as
if he were in charge while a superior officer stood right next
to him. She waited, her arms still crossed, knowing the hammer
would fall any second.

Titrus
 
"I outrank you soldier, now stand down. That's an order!
If there is issue with that order, report it to my
commander, Malcus Barbattus! Now, STAND DOWN! Please
forgive him, sister. He is new here and does not know
our ways."


“Lieutenant,” the nun said, bowing her head respectfully
toward the officer, and showing her best effort at a slight
smile of appreciation. Her more natural smile was the one of
smug satisfaction that she bestowed on the younger soldier for
a brief instant.

Titrus
 
"I'm going to unchain her now. You must secure her so
that she doesn't get hurt any more than she already is.
If she attempts escape, there will be consequences. I
have been ordered as such."


The child made no attempt to escape, instead clinging to the
Woad woman, all fear and confusion and defensive reaction.

Neeria
 
"She does not hear, you idiot! She could not hear you!
That is how you treat a child?! Do you hate us that
much?"


No wonder the girl was in such a state. She couldn’t even hear
what was going on. Lavinia spoke to the officer. “The woman
and the girl are going to be put in a small private room for
treatment. You are welcome to inspect it now and post guards
at the door to prevent an escape. But prisoners or not, they
will be given privacy and humane treatment.” She had decided
that the bed which the drunken knight had used wouldn’t do, as
she was convinced that the two Woads should stay together.
Luckily there was one open room that she had been keeping
available, because one never knew what situations would arise.
Certainly this was a situation.

“Come along now,” she said to the frail Woad woman, “there
will be no more time wasted in getting both of you the help
you need.” She led the way, allowing the woman to guide the
child. Lavinia didn’t hear exactly what the Lieutenant had
said to the abashed soldier, before again expressing his
apologies for the outrageous behavior. But if she had heard
right, the Lord’s retribution was going to involve some rather
unpleasant duties.
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golden_trillium

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Author: LadyCastus
Date: Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:26 pm
Mona


Connell
 
"Well, why wouldn't she? 'Trusted'? What is that
supposed to mean?"


Mona looked at the healer and rolled her eyes, not bothering
to answer him. Connell bothered her and she didn't feel he was
entitled to an explanation, especially since she wasn't
talking to him in the first place.

Guinevere
 
"Mona believes that Neeria has betrayed us to the
Romans. Even now, as Neeria lies wounded in some foul
dungeon, Mona mistrusts our sister in arms. Father, why
did you not tell me what Mona overheard Neeria promise
Arthur?"


Mona's stomach tightened when she heard Guinevere question her
father. It was that easy. Mona's mind was racing with
excitement. She'd actually managed to raise doubt and have
Guinevere questioning her father all in one shot. Maybe
getting close to Merlin was possible afterall. Mona contained
her glee and gathered her thoughts. Maybe it would actually be
possible to get rid of Neeria and gain favor with Merlin. Only
in her wildest dreams though did she ever consider getting rid
of Guinevere too. But that would be wonderful. Then she'd have
Merlin all to herself! She'd finally receive the love and
attention she felt she'd always deserved. Her thoughts were
broken when Merlin spoke her name, answering Guinevere's
question.

Merlin
 
...but it seems Mona has beaten me to it.


Mona smiled at Merlin, not sure if he favored what she'd done
or not.

Merlin
 
Yes, it does seem that when she was captured, Neeria
told Castus she would be willling lead him to us.
However, at this point, we have no idea whether she was
telling the truth, or whether it was some kind of ruse.
Neeria has certainly never given us reason to doubt her
loyalty before."


Mona nervously shifted her quiver to her other shoulder when
Merlin shot a look at her. When he looked at her, she felt as
though he could look right into her soul. Mona didn't trust
herself not to give something away, so she avoided eye contact
with him.

Merlin
 
If Neeria is loyal, she will come with you. If it turns
out she is not, you may leave her with the Roman dogs-
or you may kill her, as the opportunity presents itself.


Mona froze when she hear the leader's words. You may kill her
was all she heard. The words were so wonderful to her ears
that she closed her eyes and quivered as chills ran down her
spine and her abdomen tightened and contracted, making her
inner dam burst with pleasure.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: linnet
Date: Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:55 pm

Gawain


Grace
 
"Oh! Oh no, Sir. I do not sell remedies, only creams and
lotions to soften and clean a person. You need the
apothecary. Over there"


Gawain looked in the direction that she was pointing. Now he
felt like the idiot here. He turned his attention back to her,
shrugging his shoulders slightly and giving her an
apologetically sheepish smile. “Oww,” he groaned as even
smiling made his headache worse. “I’m sorry to have bothered
you then.” He turned and was about to walk away. Suddenly he
was hit with the strongest feeling that the last couple of
seconds had happened before, exactly the same. Déjà vu, he’d
been told it was called. He shook his head, and the sensation
had passed as quickly as it had come on. He walked a few steps
in the general direction she had pointed to.

Then he stopped and turned around. “I keep getting the feeling
I’ve seen you somewhere before,” he said to her. He studied
her curiously. She was sitting on a stool now, still looking a
little rattled. “There’s something familiar about you.” He
raised his hand to scratch his head, pondering without
success. “Have we ever met?”
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: lady ione
Date: Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:07 pm
Adian, Vanora, and Bors


Adian almost followed Vanora through the door of the tavern,
and watched her disappear through the kitchen doors. The smell
of food cooking made his mouth water like crazy, and he could
not remember when the last time was that he had had a good hot
meal. Vanora came back out onto the main floor and was now
behind the counter, when she looked up and saw the young
hunter standing there....

"Well, where did you disappear to Adian?" Vanora frowned
slightly at the wrapped shoulder. She had no idea how to tell
him about Thorn as he had always come to pick her up at the
tavern. To Adian, it was good to finally see a familiar.....

Tatiana
 
"Afternoon, Vanora. How're you doing on this fine day?"


Adian turned his head slowly to see where the voice came from,
then stopped Well...welll...well...what have we here?This is a
nice surprise indeed.... He gave Vanora a quick glance,
raising an eyebrow as he did so. Afternoon indeed! Okay she
either has already had a few drinks, or she has been into some
sort of love potion... Adian watched the coppery hair flow
down her back, a voice like Spring time breezes...and...

"What would you like to eat today, Adian? Afraid it is still a
tad early for bread, maybe a few more minutes, but I have
porridge ready and some tea and fruit," Vanora said startling
him out of his wolf like thoughts. Adain turned his deep
heather gray eyes toward Vanora and nodded, "Yes, that would
be fine..." He cast a look at the young woman who his eyes had
returned to. "Bring two: one for me and one for her." He sat
down just as she walked by, and addressed him....

Tatiana
 
"Hello, there."


"Hello yourself," Adian in as charming a voice as he could.
Oh, he had not forgotten the art of flirting, and he did not
think that Thorn would mind if he had a bit of fun with this
one. He noticed that the nameless young lady went to sit a few
tables away from him, then sat and waited for someone to take
her order. While Vanora had gone to the kitchen to get the two
orders, Adian got up from his seat and approached the young
woman, "Excuse me, miss, but I would love for you to join me
for breakfast as I have already ordered it for you. I am
Adian, and you are?" The hunter could not help but notice "the
look" in her eyes as though Spring had already hit her between
the eyes. He recalled having the same look when he had first
seen Thorn, and had fallen in love....

" 'NORA! WHERE"S THE FOOD! I'M STARVIN' !" Bors came through
the doors at a good limp, and looked about for his lover, and
as he looked about he saw...

"HEY, ADIAN MY LAD! WHERE'VE YA BEEN?" He was feeling roudy
and boistrous after his much needed night with Vanora. Bors
went over to a table and sat waiting for Vanora to appear! He
was famished after eating nothing but dried meat and
fruit...and some sort of fowl stew or something. This was
food! Real food and real ale!
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: sabor ice
Date: Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:54 pm
Milan


Mari
 
"Good morning...Clear! It's almost clear! Ow..."


Milan didn't remember the process leading up to sleep for it
had come on naturally. There had been no struggling to keep
his eyes open, no paranoia about what night terrors were to
come, no fears of any kind really. All he remembered was Mari
- the way her slight form had melted against his so perfectly,
her dark hair cascading in waves over her shoulder, and the
soft texture of it as he had swiped it back into place, the
way she had smiled while drifting into a peaceful slumber.
There was nothing in the world quite like her smile. And, all
the while, Milan remembered wondering about what she was
thinking, what she was dreaming.

Her murmured 'good morning' and her body stirring beside him
had been more than enough to rouse Milan. At first his eyes
remained closed, his hand sliding to the small of her back,
soaking up the kinesthetic aspect of having her so near. Her
soft lips and warm breath tickled the sensitive skin at his
neck, making it hard for him to resist smiling. A lazy,
lop-sided grin adorned his beautiful features, his hand moving
up her spine to the back of her neck and becoming gently
entangled in her dark locks.

Mari gave a quiet yelp, causing the young man to snap open his
eyes and immediately furrow his brow in disdain. He glanced
from her face to her cradled hand. Milan frowned, and moved
his a hand to tentatively bring her wounded one to his lips.
He held her hand to the side of his face then, nuzzling it
ever-so-gently against his cheek. His blue eyes lifted, gaze
darting all about her pretty face, his free hand reaching out
to cup the side of her neck. There were no words, no words
Milan could ever speak to express how much he cared for her.
It just didn't seem possible to Milan that Mari could ever
care as much about him as he did about her.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: Kayla
Date: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:56 am

Fiona


Tristan
 
“You know what will happen.”


Fiona had to admit that she really didn't know what had
compelled her to ask him about the woad attacks and what
exactly Arthur would do about them. Maybe because this time
was so different, with the breaking of the truce, then what
usually went on with the woads just planning attacks. What had
even made Merlin want to attack and break the truce in the
first place, the young woad wasn't all too sure. She was only
a little surprised when Tristan whipped around to face her,
staring at her almost menacingly, like he was some sort of
predator. Her eyes widened but she didn't shrink back when he
came closer, just stood there and looked up at him, pushing
out a sharp breath. She was more than prone to saying things
before she thought them through and this was clearly one of
these times, much to her chagrin.

Fiona flinched only slightly at his words, then nodded her
head in agreement. She did know, she just didn't want to
believe or even think about it. The young woman knew that the
breaking of the alliance would only put an even worse strain
on the current situation between Arthur and her people, which
was already bad to start with. "But is it so wrong to want
things to change," she asked as mostly a rhetorical question,
speaking low as if she was only talking to herself and had
forgotten that Tristan was standing near her. She was a woad,
and it wasn't common for them to want to see complete peace,
or to leave in the fort with the enemy of their people. It was
all incredibly frustrating, but what could she honestly do
besides live in this world and hope to survive?

Running a hand through her hair, Fiona took a peek at the
knight's expression for a brief moment, one of anger as he
looked out at the view from where they were standing. Cocking
her head to the side, she felt the wind push against her body
once more as she leaned on the wall. The silence that lingered
wasn't the most comfortable one and she felt the impulse to
ask another question but this time, she was prepared for
whatever reaction would come. "Why did you let me go last
spring?" Her blue eyes turned to search his, a small frown on
her face. It was something she had been wondering for a long
time, since if he hated her people so much, then he had the
chance to just kill her and be done with it but it hadn't gone
that way, her simply standing there as evidence to that. If
there was one thing that she was quickly growing to hate,
though, it was the fact that when people found out that she
was a woad, she didn't want them to think that she was just
going to come in their homes in the middle of the night and
slit their throats. She wanted people to know her and not just
see the woad heritage.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: Ranchera
Date: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:08 am
Connell


Merlin
 
"If Neeria is loyal, she will come with you. If it turns
out she is not, you may leave her with the Roman dogs-
or you may kill her, as the opportunity presents
itself."


Connell didn't understand the conflict between Guinevere and
the other girl. He was going to rescue Neeria, not kill her.
The woman hadn't lain wounded on the ground out of loyalty to
the fort commanders who now held her captive; surely Merlin
saw that.

"Perhaps it's time we depart," he suggested, glancing at
Merlin, "now that the sun has risen and given us warmth and
light to guide us. May the gods of old be with you, Merlin,
and also with us that we bring Neeria back to you."
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: Elessars Girl
Date: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:41 am
Derfel


Linnesse
 
"Derfel, she appreciates what you're doing- really. Or
she will."


Derfel sheepishly shrugged his shoulders. He prayed to Bel
that Linnette would indeed accept his help.

“I hope so, luv. I’ll do all that I can for her,” He answered
solemly as Linnesse knocked and then opened the door to her
sister’s room. At a quick glance around, the room was empty.
No Linnette. No fire in the brazier and no indication that
she’d been here too recently. Concern quickly flooded Derfel’s
expression.

Linnesse
 
"Derfel, look..."


Derfel followed and looked to where Linnesse gestured…the bed.
And on the bed were what appeared to be Gedeon’s saddlebags
half covered with a blanket. A lump quickly formed in Derfel’s
throat. That was all that remained….saddlebags.

He’d heard the sadness in Linnesse’s voice and reached up to
rest a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Linnesse
 
"Er...the chapel next, and then the tavern? The chapel's
nearer,"


“We’ll find her, luv. I promise. She will be fine….we’ll see
to it,” Derfel attempted to reassure Linnesse as he led his
lover back towards the door. He held it open for Linnesse to
pass through the threshold.

To the chapel it was then. And once they reached the exit of
the building housing the knights’ quarters, Derfel wrapped a
protective arm around Linnesse as they stepped out into the
rain. He did not want his lover slipping on the water soaked
steps or cobblestones, so Derfel kept the pace slow despite
the urgency they both felt in their search.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: lady ione
Date: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:50 am

Brendyn


Mother Lavinia
 
“Lieutenant,”


After Titrus apologized to the nun on his behalf, Brendyn saw
the nun bow her head toward the man and smile in appreciation,
but when she looked at him, Bren thought he saw a slight smug
smile for a brief second. He just remained neutral as he
looked back at her showing nothing of what he felt inside.
Brendyn did not move an inch while Titrus unchained the
prisoner. To him, she was an enemy just like the other woad,
and despite their wounds, he would have rather just seen them
die....they did not deserve to live while other innocent lives
had been taken those who lived within this fort women,
children and workers...all of them dead. So why should these
two deserve to live so comfortably? Still, right now, it was
best just not to say any more. He was a trained soldier who
had learned to keep his ex Commander's "ideas" concerning the
enemy: it did make them easier to kill in battle...

As he suspected, the little woad did not make a break for it.
Was it because she had the sympathy of those around her? He
noticed that the older woad had moved back to embrace her
kin...amazing that such a barbaric race was able to show
compassion to another, while they went off and killed
innocents without thinking twice. He could hear the inigmatic
Commander's voice in his head telling him that the enemy, how
ever young, did not deserve to live. Still, perhaps they saw
the enemy diffrently at this fort...that by God's intervention
and acts of kindness could turn their evil hearts. The Saxons
had crucified one of his friends, and had all but decimated
the legion he had belonged to....even the Commander. Derfel
was the first Saxon he had seen that had not looked like the
enemy, and he had talked to Brendyn as a friend. All of the
knights had.

Was Antonius wrong then? Were Sarmatians and Celts good then?
He recalled the friendship he had made with Gawain and
Galahad, and Derfel and Dagonet...

....The voice of the older woad broke his thoughts. She was
rightfully angry, but what she had said was what he had
suspected all along...

Neeria
 
"She does not hear, you idiot! She could not hear you!
That is how you treat a child?! Do you hate us that
much?"


Yes, he did hate them that much, but not children in general.
He loved children, but those who were taught to hate and kill
like adults. he had always wanted to marry and have children,
but with his duties, he found little time to get to know a
woman well enough to think of it. He refused to answer her.
All of them were making him feel like a prisoner before
execution. Besides, she did not deserve an answer. He kept a
look of total neutrality on his handsome face hiding what he
was thinking...

Tatiana. A good start to a friendship....and who knew what
would happen later. She was lovely to be sure, and had a light
airy attitude that he found refreshing. In the midst of his
lighter thought, he saw Titrus shake his head, came to stand
close to him with his brown eyes locking onto Brendyn's deep
blue ones. The young soldier did not waver despite the smug
satisfaction he could feel eminating for around him...

Titrus
 
"You're lucky the gods favor you today, boy, and that
I'm in a good mood. I'm not going to tell Commander
Barbattus what happened here, but you're ordered to hard
labor for 3 days. I hope you don't mind the smell of
shit because that means latrine duty for you. You're
lucky I don't make you dig a trench around the wall."


Good mood? If that was what his good mood looked like, I'd
hate to see his extremly happy mood... Brendyn said nothing,
but raised an eyebrow at what Titrus had dealt him out as a
punishment. Latrine duty? Was that the good luck he spoke of?
Well it was better than having one's arse and back beaten to
shreds. He felt himself exhale whether from relief, or
something else....a chance to redeem himself and a chance
later to be retrained into the type of soldier they wanted him
to be? Gods! This fort was nothing like Aesica. There was
actually mercy here that was not found under Antonius's
command. His eyes showed the greatfulness he felt to Titrus,
but he doubted that what had happened here would eventually
not get back to Malcus. He did not trust the nun, nor the
woads, nor anyone else who had witnessed the incident...no
doubt one of them would slip.

He watched as Titrus turned back to the nun and smiled, and
apologized again...

Titrus
 
"My apologies again, sister. Now how about looking after
these prisoners. God will smile favorably upon you."


Mother Lavinia
 
“The woman and the girl are going to be put in a small
private room for treatment. You are welcome to inspect
it now and post guards at the door to prevent an escape.
But prisoners or not, they will be given privacy and
humane treatment.”


And while you're at it, why don't you give them clothes and a
job at the fort, and treat them like royalty...instead of what
they really deserve... Brendyn considered his thoughts, none
of which his face betrayed, and thought that perhaps cleaning
toilets would cool him off and give him an outlet to "blow off
steam". From where he stood, he saw the nun lead off the two
woads as though they were her best friends.

If the roles had been reveresed, would they have killed the
lot of us, or shown us the same kindness...

Now that he and Titrus were alone and the crowd had broke up,
Brendyn waited in total humiliation for Titrus to say or do
something. He flinched as the blood that had been flowing form
his now reopened wound began to cause friction of the wet
armsleeve against the gash...
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: Starbelle
Date: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:03 am
Tatiana


Adian
 
"Hello yourself," "Excuse me, miss, but I would love for
you to join me for breakfast as I have already ordered
it for you. I am Adian, and you are?"


"Thank you. That was very nice of you I'd be glad to join you
for breakfast." Tatiana replied polietly. Breakfast? Is it
only morning? Could've sworn that it was later than that. Oh
well.

"Its nice to meet you, Adian. I'm Tatiana." She said
introducing herself to him as he'd already introduced himself
to her, besides it would've been considered rude not to
introduce herself in return.

After making eye-contact with Adian's heather grey eyes, with
her hazel ones, she bit down on her lower lip and looked away
shyly, feeling a soft blush heat her cheeks as she realized
that she could get lost very easily within Adian's eyes. No,
I've got to stay true to Brendyn, as I don't know anything
about Adian, even though he was kind enough to offer me
breakfast.

Hearing a very loud and booming voice enter the tavern,
Tatiana looked up when a big bear of a man limped through the
doorway.

Since she was quite used to loud voices from childhood,the
newer voice didn't bother her, but it still got her attention
anyway.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: Kay
Date: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:03 am
Grace


Grace held on tight to the seat of her stool; she felt it was
the only thing that would stop her falling to the ground. She
was not used to conversing with men and this encounter was
testing her to the fullest. Grace had caught the slightest
hint of an unfamilair scent on the man's breath when he had
leant across the table a moment ago. Then, the suddenly
realisation crashed over her; it was stale wine! She
remembered the odour from her days at Eboracum. Grace hated
alcohol with a passion.

Gawain
 
“Oww. I’m sorry to have bothered you then.”


Grace glanced up at him; it was obvious now that his headache
was due to overindulgence and he was clearly suffering. Serves
him right! she thought. It had been a drunken brawl that
robbed her of Peter; if only he hadn't stepped in to try and
stop it.

She tried to empty her mind of such thoughts; this was no time
for her to cry. The man was leaving now and she sighed with
relief, but then he stopped and turned back. Grace groaned
inwardly.

Gawain
 
“I keep getting the feeling I’ve seen you somewhere
before. Have we ever met?”


Yes, you tried to run me down with your horse, Grace thought
angrily, but instead she arranged her features into what she
hoped was a neutral expression.

"No" she replied tersely. "You are a stranger to me"
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: Pinkie
Date: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:35 pm
Amadeus


Amadeus had his head half bowed, his ear tilted towards the
door as he listened for any noises that might give away what
was facing him. He heard a familiar voice pitched low inside
and almost rolled his grey eyes. Lancelot. There were other
voices there that he did not recognise but he had barely time
to ponder it when the door opened and there stood the insolent
Sarmatian pup.

Lancelot
 
"Optio, Commander, your requested guest is here."


The Optio's reaction to Lancelot was similar to Lancelot's
reaction to him. His jaw made an unearthly creaking noise and
his shoulders tensed. All the muscles in his abdomen tightened
painfully as he looked from Lancelot to Arthur. He stepped
inside the room without acknowledging Lancelot at all - for
all intents and purposes he treated him like the 'squire' he
joked about playing.

Shrewd grey eyes looked at the two women who remained in the
room, a twitch to his upper lip displaying his distaste for
their presence. Did Arthur wish to speak with him or have a
damn orgy? Amadeus was not feeling particularly patient today.
He was in no mood to coddle Castus, to make his life easy. The
man was at his weakest, now was the time to strike. The Optio
looked down at Arthur with mild disdain, looking over him a
moment before meeting his still, surprisingly, steady gaze.

"Commander - " he spoke in greeting, his voice quiet but not a
shy or uncertain whisper. Amadeus was delibrately not going to
do two things - he was not going to demand the entourage leave
and he was not going to ask about Arthur's injuries. It was a
first minor step towards his coup and it felt damn good ---
"All quiet last night. The woads will be regrouping I surmise.
I doubt that we will have as quiet a night tonight however. We
must focus on squashing these insurgents, Arthur. They must
not think that they may attack this noble fortress without
there being a substantial price to pay. Not from now on, at
least." the Optio added, his eyes becoming half lidded with
disdain, his loaded statement implying weakness on Arthur's
behalf up until that point. That the woads thought they could
attack without retribution was outrageous - It could only be
because Arthur had not dealt with them in a sure way before.









Drake

Linnette
 
“Arthur? I’m…I’m a wreck, You...it's all right, you
didn't... Let's go."


He should have pitied her considering the predicament she was
now in. Drake had every opportunity and knowledge to find pity
in his heart for her. She was a pregnant widow. She had not
slept by the looks of it, she was saturated to the bone and
she was tired, so abysmally tired. The Commander of the
fortress wished to see her and Drake presumed that she would
rather stay up on the parapets catching a cold than face
anyone, even him, right now. But he felt not one ounce of
pity.

He felt sorrow for her situation. He felt a protective urge
unmatched at any other time in his life to ensure that, not
only would she prevail through this misery, but that she would
come out the other side as the woman she always wanted to be.
He felt regret that he could do nothing to help her appearance
before going to Arthur too.

Linnette was a proud woman - appearing in front of the
commander in such a state would not sit well in her mind.

The Spaniard shrugged his saddlebags on his shoulders as he
started forward behind Linnette down the steps. His red cloak
fluttered behind her but he saw her small hand coming to hold
it at the neck. She was not going to deny his gesture then -
that was pleasing in an odd way.

At the bottom of the steps, Drake stepped forward to walk next
to Linnette. It felt awkward to be walking next to her and not
somehow assist her in walking, like offer her his arm, or
place his hand on her elbow to escort her to the Commander's
office. The Spaniard was pondering this as they got in out of
the rain.

They came up to the door and the ex-soldier trotted forward
ahead of Linnette. He pushed open the door and stood in the
doorway, holding it for Linnette to come in. Instinctively
Drake held his hand out towards the woman to ensure she did
not slip or trip into the puddle close to the threshold. His
thick fingers touched hers only for the briefest of moments as
she stepped into the fortress and then the contact was gone.
But it made Drake uncomfortable - even more so.

It was hardly an intimate touch! And yet his fingers flexed in
against his wounded palm sharply, as if he was working the
blood back into the cold digits. There was something about the
way Linnette's hands felt- they reminded Drake of Cecile's
fingers, perhaps it was just their skin was as soft. Perhaps
it was the warmth that seemed to be in their skin even in the
cold... ? Perhaps it was the size of their hands? Perhaps it
was just his brain starting to lose it's proper functioning as
he got bloody old!

Drake sucked his upper lip in between his teeth, licking
moisture from his dark moustache as he peered down the
corridor.

"Do you want to get dry clothes?" Drake asked Linnette,
looking down at her at the last minute, taking in the sorry
look of her. Her dark hair was plastered to her head and she
looked like she was drowning in the thick cloaks she wore
about her slight shoulders. Her face was drawn with sorrow and
cold, drops running down her cheeks that might be tears or
rain, he couldn't be certain.







Eala

Eala went with Neeria though she turned her head to look over
her shoulder at the two young girls. Her eyes were suspicious,
narrowed and piercing in intensity as she watched the two
curiously. She followed Neeria, not out of complacency, but
rather because she was resolved not to leave this place
without all of her people. And Neeria was one of her people.
She was only ten years of age, but Eala had a strong sense of
responsibility for her people - all of whom were now her
family since her blood kin were all dead.

When they had gone far enough way that Eala couldn't see the
two girls, she looked up at Neeria, her nose wrinkling as she
took in the look of teh older woad.

"Nnnmph?" Eala questionned with a jut of her chin towards
Neeria, enquiring after her health. They were being brought to
the end of teh room, into a smaller sub-room of their own. The
little woad walked inside warily, eyeballing the nun
suspiciously. Once inside the room she remained clinging to
Neeria, watching the nun with barely witheld contempt and an
even healthier dose of suspicion. It had been her who had
ordered the shackles off -- why?

The blonde moved around to Neeria's other side, watching
Lavinia all the while and then came to stand in front of the
older woad, in a defensive stance, shaking her head at the
nun. She was unaware that the nun was a healer and intended to
help them - her lack of hearing leaving her in the dark about
their purpose in the infirmary. She crouched a little, lifting
her small hand to cup her wounded shoulder, but her face was
untouched by any distraction like pain or discomfort as she
watched Lavinia.









Mari

Mari watched her hand being cradled softly by Milan with her
bottom lip pouting out. Her sullen expression was changing
slowly into a smile however, as he first kissed her hand, then
gently pressed it to his cheek. Mari's lips were lifting
perceptibly until finally she breathed a small laugh and
straightened her fingers, touching Milan's face tenderly. She
was helpless when faced with his beautiful, dazzling eyes.
His other hand went to her neck, touching her so intimately
and yet so chastely! Mari shut her dark brown eyes and her
lips parted in a gentle sigh.

"That feels so nice." she murmured, letting her head flop down
onto the bed again. She opened her eyes, looking at Milan
silently, enjoying the feel of his warm fingers against her
soft skin. Her own fingers were still on his cheek and she
moved them over the hardness of his cheekbone, trailing down
to the hollow of his cheek and then his jaw.

"I should talk to my father today... explain to him what
happened, what... explain me and you to him. He's not going to
be very pleased so I think i should do it on my own. Do you? I
don't want him freaking out and trying to hurt you again,
Milan. I can't handle that.." Mari said, shaking her head and
looking down at Milan's adam's apple.
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