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August 2008
Topic Started: Apr 12 2010, 09:09 PM (2,835 Views)
golden_trillium

Admin
Author: golden_trillium
Date: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:50 pm
Tristan


Bors
 
"Right...but it'll be awright though yeah? It'll be able
to fly again? I'm bloody starvin'! Wish she 'adn't given
you that bloody rabbit, I could just eat that now!"


"Heh." Tristan gave a soft, half-snort, half-laugh, as the
hawk threw up her head and swallowed the last of the rabbit
meat in a gulp that visibly distended her throat, the lump
traveling down until it became lost in her chest feathers. The
scout watched her fondly for a moment, then scooped her up
again and stood, wiping the hand that had held the meat on his
thigh.

"Yeah, she'll be fine." He reached up and clucked softly to
the hawk, tapping her just lightly on the tail feathers, and
she waddled up his arm to his shoulder, her wing held out
awkwardly in the splint, but much more contented now that she
had eaten. As Bors might be, too, by the looks of things. Not
to mention it was getting chilly out here.

"Tavern?" Tristan asked with typical verbal economy, taking a
step in that direction while looking back at Bors expectantly.













Linnesse

The knock came to Linnesse through her wandering in
half-dreams...a sound that at first seemed to be in her head
only. She had the thought that she was back at the Villa
Rosarum, and that the sound was the tap on the door of Maeve
her servant coming to bring her breakfast in her quarters...or
maybe she was in the infirmary, and the sound was the man
coming around with the lunch cart? Disoriented, she opened her
eyes, saw the shapes of an unfamiliar room...and sat bolt
upright, eyes wide, only then really remembering that she was
in her new quarters, that she and Linnette and Derfel had
moved into that day. It was dark- almost completely, except
for some guards' torchlight from across the street outside the
window. She had slept for an hour, at least, probably much
more...and someone was still knocking at the door.

Belatedly, swung her feet out of the bed, grabbing the top
blanket and wrapping it around her shoulders for a little more
modesty- and warmth- as she padded her way quickly across the
inner room and then Linnette's outer one. Who could be
knocking? What did they want? Neither Derfel nor Linnette
seemed to be home yet, so perhaps it was not that late after
all- but who would be coming to see her? Or maybe it was
Derfel they wanted...there hadn't been another attack?
Nervousness, shading into fear, was already rising in
Linnesse's chest as she pulled open the door into the
corridor- so it was with a noticeable sigh of relief that she
saw that it was the weaver, Ione, standing there, an
indeterminate lumpy package under her arm.

"Ione!" Linnesse blinked, then sheepishly rubbed her eyes,
still trying to get herself fully oriented to the waking
world. Tucking her arms back inside the warmth of her blanket,
she stood back from the doorway, allowing a clear path for
Ione to enter the darkened room.

"Come in if you like...I'm sorry, I was taking a rest."
Linnesse made for the table in the center of the outer room,
where she was pretty sure they had set a candle, but it was
impossible to see in the dark- she groped around on the table
here and there for a moment, with no success.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: Pinkie
Date: Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:53 am
Mari


Why didn't it feel like enough? Mari had never been as close
to anyone as she was to Milan right now and yet she felt as if
there was a gulf between them. It created an air of neediness
about her kisses, a hint of desperation in the way her small
fingertips cluthed at his tunic about the back. Her bent knee
tilted inwards, pressing against the side of his body hard
enough that he had to press back so as not to tipple sideways.
But he didn't tipple sideways - he remained poised about her,
kissing gently at first, but with a previously unknown passion
soon after. His hand traced along her arm to her shoulder and
Mari held her breath, her body wound up so tight that she
trembled under his touch.

She pulled at his tunic, feeling it an impediment to their
current closeness. Tenacity won out and she finally pulled the
tunic off over his head, tossing it away above her head . Her
hands replaced the material, sliding along his pale skin,
feeling the shifting of muscle and sinew beneath his skin from
his shoulders to his hips.

Milan
 
"I... don' wanna...hurt...yyou..."


Her head swam and her eyes found it hard to focus on his face
because it was so close. Mari's breathing was erratic, quick
and shallow, her lips remained parted as she rounded in on
Milan's worried expression.

"Wh... what?" she whispered, confused by his admission. She
shook her head a little bit, lifting a hand to touch his
cheek, taking a deep breath, deep enough that the flesh of her
chest barely brushed against Milan's bare chest. "Why would
you ... oh." she finally realised what he meant and felt a
flush of red to her cheeks to think that that is where their
actions were heading. And she knew that now was not the right
time for it either, now was too soon for her and yet ... she
wanted it, she wanted to be this close to him, to explore him
and discover these hidden feelings inside of herself.
Biting her bottom lip, Mari shook her head, unable to look
Milan in the eye now that she had figured out what they had
been intending, a faint hint of a smile about her lips.

"We don't have to... it doesn't have to be ... we can just
stay here, this moment, no further. Right? We don't have to
..." she said ever so gently and genuinely seeking answers to
her half-questions. She didn't know if what she was saying was
right. Could you go this far with a man then turn around and
say 'no more'? Mari had no idea. She shut her eyes and lifted
her head up off the ground, craning her neck as she pressed
her lips to the ball of his shoulder. Tentatively she parted
her lips and tasted his skin, brushing her teeth softly to the
warmth of his body before laying her head back down on the
floor, her eyes shut, a look of dazed pleasure on her face.









Amadeus

Arthur
 
“Ladies, please do excuse us,”


Oh how damn admirable. He could stand on his own two feet.
Well good for him. If Arthur was to survive in this pit of
imbeciles then he would have to learn to stand on his own two
feet because he certainly could not trust any of his men to do
his bidding to the letter. Except, perhaps, Tristan. The time
waiting for the weaker sex to leave allowed the Optio a moment
to calm himself, to plan what he was going to say wisely
because he had no wish nor desire to anger Arthur, to turn him
against him at the very get-go. He had to do this correctly,
he had to win the Commander's favour.

Once the women were gone the Optio released a heavy sigh and
tensed his jaw. He shook his head and looked down at the
ground, eyebrows raised. He lifted a hand and raked it back
through his damp, black hair. Grey eyes peered through a
curtain of lank black hair towards Arthur and his lips tensed
as he shook his head again.

"It was a disaster." he admitted in a gritty tone of voice.
"The woad guide you sent led us on a wild goose chase. We came
upon an abandonned camp and were then ambushed by Merlin. We
were outnumbered.. hugely, though there seems to be some
cracks appearing in their united front." the Optio reported
and glanced towards the chair, willing Arthur to tell him to
sit. The pain on the back of his thigh was excrutiating,
always made worse by horse-riding no matter the precautions he
took, the efforts he went to to make sure he was comfortable.

Swallowing hard, Amadeus looked back at Arthur and lifted his
hands in supplication and helplessness.

"Things might have gone smoother had your Captain, Barbattus,
not opened his mouth. His insubordination made us a laughing
stock. Had we been on the field of battle under the banner of
Rome I would have had no choice but to strike him down,
Commander. It was only in consideration of your status,
respect for your authority and confidence in your fair justice
that bid me bring him back here to face the consequences of
his actions...." the Optio trailed off, his passionate voice
quietening as he shook his head, recalling the violence he had
tempered when faced with the imbecile.









Drake

Linnette
 
"Oh, well... I was thinking to go visit Dagonet in the
infirmary, and I wondered if maybe... If you have time,
that is...and if you wouldn't mind?"


She took a step back and craned her neck to see out the door.
Drake cocked an eyebrow in curiosity at this, glancing towards
teh door himself though he could not see out of it beyond what
lay around her form. Any moment now he felt that someone would
spring out of the doorframe and cry 'boo'... or that there
would be laughter somewhere distance as the joke was made upon
him. Linnette moved the little book to hold it in front of her
as if she expected ... as if she expected what? Drake's green
eyes looked down at her pale hands, disappearing in behind the
cover of the book, her wrists bent slightly to hold the book
in place. Curious eyes lifted to her face when she spoke.

Their choice of company in each other the past few days had
made sense to Drake. It had made sense to him to look out for
the pregnant wife of a man he could respect though he knew
little about Gedeon. She had been alone and she had been
vulnerable... and he had found something in her manner to
remind him of a woman he had once loved. Now, having come to
know her more, he knew that Linnette was nothing like Cecile.
Somethign in her touch reminded Drake of his dead wife but
that might have been because 'touch' was not something he had
paid much attention to for many, many years. 'Touch' was not
something that he allowed, nothing gentle, nothing without
it's purpose. For Linnette he had made a compromise and he was
paying for it now because ... it seemed she was seeking his
company for ... company's sake?

And worse -- he was not about to deny her anything that he was
able to give, even if he knew that his company was not good
for her. Were his intentions correct? He was trying so hard to
stay out of any feelings of fondness and affection for her yet
now she purposely sought his company ... ? It was a recipe for
disaster.

Drake looked straight at her for the few moments it took for
those thoughts to scamper through his guilty conscience. He
had no real expression on his face, not surprise, not
reluctance, not enthusiasm - it was just a look of judging,
weighing up a situation without coming to a conclusion.

"No." he finally answered, turning from her and tugging his
miserable red cloak from beneath the bundle on the ground. He
shook it out and swung it over the dark blue tunic, walking
towards Linnette. "I wouldn't mind." he added to confirm that
the 'no' was in relation to that and not 'no go away woman'.
Awkward in adding to a conversation not initiated by himself,
awkward knowing that he was not following her for her own
safety but rather because he had been invited, Drake had to
scour his previous lifetime to figure out what to say as he
exitted the room, clicking the door behind him...

"Hands?" he asked, gesturing to the bandaged appendages which
looked rather dusty now from all the moving and rearranging in
her new room. Right next door to his. Inwardly, Drake groaned.









Kolya

Would Alina understand the code between Sarmatian brothers?
Would she understand that her little-boy-lover was still alive
because of that code? How easy it would have been for him to
destroy the little twerp but he had resisted because he was
Sarmatian, and because he had been drunk too. Galahad might
not have been so willing or idiotic to pick a fight with him
when stone-cold sober, but he had started it drunk so Kolya
had taught him a lesson, nothing more. As for not taking
another Sarmatians woman to his bed... ? Well, there was
nothing in any code about that. Besides, it wasn't as if he
had wooed Alina, it wasn't as if he had tried to seduce her.
She could have easily said no a couple of more times and saved
herself all this heartache...

Her hand lifted to his face. The old Sarmatian winced in
anticipation of a slap at first but relaxed into a wry grin
when she just examined the damage to his face done by her
official lover.

Alina
 
"It was never about competition. I'm not a prize to be
won, Is it possible for me to leave you alone and for
you to still remain in one piece?"


Kolya chuckled darkly as she clung to his arm and made to walk
away. He shrugged his shoulders and stood quite still,
unmoveable, as if nothing could shift him.

"Who knows?" he laughed huskily, watching her step away from
him, her weak ankle making it look precarious but ... if she
wasn't going to suck it up and ask him to help then she cuold
go slipping and sliding again. It would do his humour good to
have a laugh before picking her out of the mud anyways. When
she got a few feet away he smirked deviously and stepped down
another step, leaning his huge shoulder against the wall,
folding his arms across his chest, narrowing his blue eyes at
her --

"Hey Alina!" he called out, waiting for a sign that she had
heard him before continuing - "Ever fuck in the rain?" he
asked deviantly, recalling her fury earlier when he had asked
the same thing about the stables, deliberaetly prodding her,
deliberately showing her that he was still the same guy as
before, that just because they had fucked that nothing between
them had really changed. Not really.

Right?









Catherine

Dirt, despite what some might think, did not repulse
Catherine. She did not like to be dirty herself, but that was
because of what people thought and said when they saw a known
whore with a smudge of dirt on her, with the hint of
grubbiness about the back of her ears. It implied things,
things that Catherine did not believe of herself. She knew
what she did and she knew why she did it. Other people saw
what she did and made up things around that. Well, let them be
damned or they knew nothing about her real reasons.
Lancelot, for instance, may have been only interested in one
thing from her, but he would surely be willing to speak about
being Sarmatian, to tell her about Sarmatia where Tristan had
not. Where Gawain would not.

He clasped her hand and Catherine smiled, looking almost
sheepish for having been caught being so forward without
permission. But it was an almost petulant smile. Did Lancelot
enjoy a bit of life from his women? He certainly did not seem
to be the type to want her to stay shutting up for too long,
like Tristan. And he was also not adverse to her trying to
attract his attention and custom, like Gawain. She smiled...

Lancelot
 
"Lady, No more kissing for me this evening. I've had bad
luck with your sex - and I'm sore in need of
refreshment. Lovely - after spending the past few weeks
with too many soldiers, and the last few hours locked in
that place, it is refreshing to see you...Catherine?"


A genuine surge of pride brightened Catherine's beautiful face
when he sniffed her skin and commented on it. Her initial
reaction to his declaration that he had had bad luck with
women tonight was one of mock surprise, quiet alarm that
someone like him could have bad luck with women at all. Whilst
in her mind, the whore was conjuring the perfect response
which was suitably brazen but undeniably sweet and innocent
too, almost vulnerable. The question after her name made her
smile, and she dipped her head in greeting before lifting her
pretty eyes to his grubby, bruised face once more.

He was handsome under all the grime...

Lancelot
 
"What do you here, really, lady?"


He released her hand and the smirk and playful smile
disappeared with it. Catherine lifted her eyebrows, giving a
sweet pout of her perfectly red lips. She was not to be
dissuaded so easily and lifted her hand once more, this time
to touch the dark curls at the side of his head. Despite the
wholly innocent look about her, there was a twinkle in her
green eyes, a sparkle in the edge to her contained smile as
she looked at his mussed up hair --

"But you have never had my sex... how can you know a thing
about it before trying it?" she purred sweetly, "Besides... we
don't have to kiss." Catherine laughed, lightly deflecting his
last question, lifting a hand to her mouth to cover her lips
as she laughed, watching him carefully.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: lady ione
Date: Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:49 am
Ione


Ione nervously waited for the door to be answered all the
while looking about her as it was quite dark except for some
dim light eminating from somewhere down the long hall. What if
Linnesse was asleep, or what if she had disrupted an intimate
moment with....? The sound from the other side of the door
made Ione start a bit causing her to break her thoughts. As
the door slowly opened, Ione looked down fearing that Linnesse
would yell at her for the disruption. The face that met hers
was kind, but with a shade of sleep Ione thought....damn, she
had woken her up!

Linnesse
 
"Ione!" "Come in if you like...I'm sorry, I was taking a
rest."


"Linnesse," Ione swallowed a bit afraid that the other woman
would be upset. "I-I am sorry I woke you up," Ione said softly
noting poor Linnesse trying to wake up still. Besides, she had
been ill if Ione had recalled correctly, and so rest was
needed. As Linnesse allowed her to enter, Ione felt badly
about having woken her. The room was very dimly lit, and Ione
had to let her eyes try to adjust to the dark. Ione shut the
door behind her while Linnesse had gone off somewhere in the
room...probably to find light. The weaver could bearly see as
the only light was coming from some distant torch. Well, she
couldn't show Linnesse the dress unless they had light, and
the room was cold. Ione held the package to her as well as the
cloak.

Should she help? All she had to do was make sure that Linnesse
didn't hurt herself while searching for whatever she was
searching for...
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: golden_trillium
Date: Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:01 pm
Linnesse


Ione
 
"Linnesse," I- I am sorry I woke you up."


"It's all right," Linnesse assured her distractedly, still
groping around on the table, slapping her hand down in first
one spot and then the other, until finally, almost at the edge
of the tabletop, her fingers curled around a candlestick, and
next to it, Derfel's tinderbox, which, as she remembered, had
fortunately been left there in the course of getting things
organized. Working by feel, she pulled the candle to the
center of the table, and after a couple of tries at the
tinderbox, had a small candle flame glowing in the darkness of
the outer room. It partially illuminated Ione's rather
hesitant face, made craggy-looking by the shadows, and
Linnesse gestured for her to sit down on the couch if she
wanted to, as she hitched the blanket back up around her
shoulders.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, the worry in Ione's face
putting worry into hers, too. Once again, the thought of
another attack threatened around the corners of her mind- but
surely she would have heard more of an alarm if that were the
case?










Linnette

Drake
 
"No. I wouldn't mind. Hands?"


"Oh...no worse, at least." Linnette met his eyes sideways and
gave a rueful grimace, then quickly segued into a hasty
reassurance.

"I've been careful," she added, with a smile that expressed
some sadness, too- sadness that she had had cause for a
breakdown in the hallway in the first place, but once again-
she didn't want Drake to worry. She couldn't stand the thought
of him being unnecessarily worried for her. He had enough to
do, had done enough for her- he didn't need more dumped on
him. And it was true, what she said- her hands were still
sore, and the left one very tender where the bone was
presumably cracked- but no worse. No worse.

She started momentarily as they came back out into the
hallway- they had apparently just missed someone going into
the new quarters that she now shared with Linnesse and Derfel,
because the door next to Drake's the one that led to their
outer room, was just clicking shut from the inside. Linnette
paused for a moment, half stepping towards her door...but then
decided against it. It was almost certainly just Derfel
returning with some food, as he had said he would bring, and
Linnette was neither very hungry nor inclined to interact with
her brother-in-law just now. Better to let him and Linnesse
have a private moment- if she were even awake. Making up her
mind not to go in, Linnette tucked the small book
inconspicuously under her arm and turned away from her door,
trying not to feel just a tinge of resentment that she could
no longer come and go as she pleased to her own quarters.
Well, of course, she could go in and stash the book- but
circumstances had made it so that she didn't want to, and that
was an uncomfortable feeling.

"So..." Linnette paused and cleared her throat a bit awkwardly
as she and Drake started down the corridor. Once again, she
felt she should say something, make conversation- but topics
were so hard to come by, so silly-sounding, all of them, in
her head. As she shifted her arm again, though, the presence
of the book reminded her of a very interesting topic for
discussion indeed.

"Where did you get the books?" she asked curiously, her face
turned up towards Drake's, pale in the dim light, as she
started to push open the outside door of the knights'
quarters.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: lady ione
Date: Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:31 pm
Ione


Linnesse
 
"It's all right,"


Ione waited and watched while Linnesse continued to search for
something on the table, and the worry on her face was there
because She just did not want Linnesse to hurt herself by
striking her foot on something, or tripping and falling. She
clutched the package closer to her still hoping that Linnesse
would accept the gift. Ione did not know the woman, that was
certain, but she was sure the dress would fit her, and she had
wanted to know her better. Ione hadn't realized that the frown
was still on her face when the candle flickered to life...

Linnesse
 
"Is something wrong?"


Seeing the worry mirrored on the blonde's face, Ione raised an
eyebrow, then shook her head slightly, "Er...no...there is
nothing wrong. I just did not want you to fall while walking
around in the dim light..." Ione caught herself babbling, and
took a heavy sigh looking from the package to Linnesse and
back. "I-I made this, and I want you to have it," Ione held
out the package to Linnesse. "And...I wanted to see how you
were." Ione smiled at the other woman as she always prided
herself on her needle work and weaving. Her mind was on so
many things right now: Javier, the injured hawk and Tristan,
Mirtha, her child, and the work she had to catch up on at the
shop. What she needed was advice, and just someone who
hopefully would understand, and not judge her.

She just needed to talk: plain and simple.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: golden_trillium
Date: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:00 pm
Linnesse


Ione
 
"Er...no...there is nothing wrong. I just did not want
you to fall while walking around in the dim light...I- I
made this, and I want you to have it, and...I wanted to
see how you were."


"Oh...much better- thank you. I hope you are well?" Linnesse
tilted her head to the side and gave Ione a social smile as
she returned the greeting- but she found her attention drawn
curiously and confusedly back to the package Ione was still
holding out to her. Wanted her to have this? What...she
frowned slightly in consternation and confusion, then met
Ione's eyes a little more cautiously as she reached out to
take it. Whatever it was was not heavy, but it was not exactly
small, either, and the texture of the package had the yielding
bulk of cloth.

Totally mystified as to what the object was- or what was the
occasion for it- Linnesse set the package down on the table,
where some of the light from the candle illuminated it, and
opened the paper wrapping. Inside...she drew it up and held it
up, partially unfolded so as to get a good look at what it
was. It was a dress, a whole dress, yellow in the candle's
small circle of illumination, and of good quality, too, by the
feel of the fabric. Blinking even more confusedly, Linnesse
lowered the garment back to the table, and turned back to
Ione.

"But why..." she shook her head, pushing the dress, still half
in its paper, partway back across the table towards the other
woman.

"It's beautiful work, Ione- but why give it to me?" Linnesse
was quite confused by that- she didn't know Ione by more than
a few conversations. She knew that Ione had used to work in
the tavern with Linnette, before she acquired a weaving shop
and set herself up selling her wares, there- and that Linnette
had always said that Ione was a flighty thing who had a crush
on a new man every week, though Linnesse also seemed to
remember something about her recently becoming betrothed to a
soldier- but Ione and Linnesse weren't what the blonde woman
would have called close. A whole dress? She had no idea what
the motivation for such a valuable gift would be.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: sabor ice
Date: Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:37 pm
Ash


Juna
 
“It would seem so, Mona is berserk. Guinevere acted out
of control. And Connell never was quite all there, in my
opinion.”


Ash could only find himself agreeing at Juna's description of
the dysfunctional trio. The healer had always seemed
marginally neutral when passing judgment - judgment conceived
from actualities rather than mere personal belief. He was very
much in the same frame of mind. Her opinion was something he
had grown to respect.

Every action in the world had its price. With responsibility
came accountability. Guinevere had abused her authority and
acted out of turn, inadvertently resulting in the deaths of
several warriors. Neeria had treated with the enemy, leaving a
vulnerability to her people, in order to save her own skin.
Connell was a deserter, and Mona was an unstable git who had
attacked Merlin's daughter unprovoked, a pure physical
liability. Actions. Responsibilities. Each of them should have
been held personally accountable despite status or state of
sanity, and punished with a consequence befitting of the
crime. For those who were missing, it was the Gods who
controlled their fate. For those who were present, it was
Merlin. The magician's word was law, and his decisions would
go unquestioned by the faithful. Gods willing, justice would
be served.

Juna
 
"I don’t think Merlin chose the right people to rescue
Neeria. But he did well by Eala."


The healer's sincere appreciation for his trials and suffering
caught the Woad off guard. Ash was an extremely modest
individual. He was one to act without conscious thought of
receiving fame or glory or even praise from his
accomplishments. He did something because he felt it was
right, and sought not personal gain from the outcome. He
watched Eala as she huddled closely to him, and he knew he had
done something right.

Juna
 
“I’ll do my best to make sure you don’t have to suffer
any further. Part of what healers are for, you know...Do
whatever you want...I’ll be checking on you as we go,”


He gave Juna a fond nod before she moved away, glancing back
at the little blonde girl beside him and giving her a
half-hearted playful nudge of his shoulder. Two warriors
approached soon after and offered to aide Ash onto the litter.
In his weakened and slightly disoriented state, the young man
had no other option than to swallow his pride and comply. He
would never admit the prospect of rest now was most agreeable.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: Eledhwen
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:26 am

Bors


Tristan
 
"Tavern?"


Bors glanced up at the dark countenance before him, and nodded
shortly as he struggled to stand.

"Yeah, sounds good," he grunted, pushing himself up with one
meaty hand braced against the wall. "You're buyin'"

He grinned briefly and began to limp across the courtyard
towards the comparitive heat and light of the crowded tavern,
looking forward to some good grub. Then realised Vanora
wouldn't be there and resigned himself to mediocre grub
instead. Not that it ever made much difference to Bors -
whatever was put in front of him he ate, no quibbles, no
complaints. It was food.

Pushing open the door he felt the thrum of many voices, Roman
and Sarmatian and Briton alike, wash over him in a dull roar.
The heat and smell of soldiers hit him as he limped inside,
but he paid it no head, he barely noticed it. Waiting for
Tristan to enter, he let the door bang behind them before
moving carefully to the bar.
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golden_trillium

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Author: golden_trillium
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:14 am

Tristan


Bors
 
"Yeah, sounds good. You're buyin'."


Tristan gave a snort that he hoped left that ambiguous as they
moved off in the direction of the tavern. He hadn't decided
yet whether he'd be willing to buy an ale or two for Bors or
not. Sometimes he was- sometimes he wasn't. It just depended
on his mood.

The tavern was warm and stuffy, the closer, more crowded air
hitting Tristan in the face almost like a blow after the cold
clarity of outside. He always felt a bit stifled in here, like
his senses were dulled when under a roof- but even Tristan had
to admit that indoor spaces had their uses. Warmth, for one.
He could almost feel the blood rushing back into his ears.
Various soldiers scattered around, in their little groups,
playing dice and chatting raucously...Tristan spotted Derfel,
sitting with one particular soldier, a whole barrel of ale
between them and both looking rather morose. Someone was
drowning his sorrows, that was for sure.

Tristan slid onto a bench at the empty table next to theirs,
putting his back to the wall, as always, and beckoned a
serving girl over, holding up two fingers for two ales.

"And some food," he added in a low, barely there voice. The
girl nodded nervously- Tristan tended to make many women
nervous, though that didn't bother him- and went to collect
their requirements.
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: lady ione
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:08 am

Ione


Linnesse
 
"Oh...much better- thank you. I hope you are well?"


Ione smiled at the good news that Linnesse was feeling
better...being pregnant so far was not as pleasant a thing as
she had first thought: morning sickness, unable to eat things
that normally sounded good, feeling tired...though waiting for
the birth of Javier's child was worth it all. She could not
love anyone more than she had him. Ione looked down at the
ground, and then slightly up at her host, "I have been doing
well...though I am pregnant....I think...." There was a space
of time when Linnesse just looked at the package Ione held out
to her, bu t Ione was glad when the young woman took the
package finally. She was proud of her work as, to her, it was
like a lost art form. Anxiously, Ione watched Linnesse set the
bundle on a table, and open it. As the gift was revealed to
the light, Ione marveled at the pale yellow of the fabric and
how is looked in the soft light of the candle. Dark eyes went
from the dress to Linnesse then back as the blonde looked over
the gift then set it back down on the table...was there
something wrong with it?

Linnesse
 
"But why..." "It's beautiful work, Ione- but why give it
to me?"


"Well, the lady who ordered it...she decided that she did not
like it. It was a special order," Ione stepped a bit closer,
but not too close. She did not know Linnesse that well, and
was a bit shy. " I did not know who else could fit into it,
and you were the first who came to mind..." Ione looked down
at the floor wondering whys she sometimes put fourth effort
only to have a special piece of work rejected. She did not
know Linnesse that well, and it was true that she did not know
why she really wanted the other woman to have it, except that
Ione was always that kind of person to give gifts, and to make
others happy.

Happiness was something that had eluded her since she got back
to the fort.

She could not be happy without Javier, except for the fact
that she was carrying his child, and that alone made her
happy: A creation made of happy memories and love she swore
she'd never know again. What man would want a woman who
already had a child?
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golden_trillium

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Author: golden_trillium
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:10 am
Linnesse


Ione
 
"Well, the lady who ordered it...she decided that she
did not like it. It was a special order. I did not know
who else could fit into it, and you were the first who
came to mind..."


“Oh!” Linnesse exclaimed in surprise- and increased
understanding. She pulled the dress up again, examining it
more carefully now in the meager candlelight- it did look to
be about her size in the waist and shoulders. It was a
pleasant pale yellow color- and the embroidery on the bodice
was quite pretty. It would fit Linnette, too- at least for the
time being, considering her pregnancy- and that might be an
added bonus.

Pregnancy…Linnesse blinked, suddenly realizing what Ione had
said under her questioning about the dress- in response to her
query of whether she was well.

“You’re pregnant? Congratulations!” she exclaimed with a warm
smile that maybe held a touch of wistfulness, too. She herself
couldn’t have children- and while she had never wanted one
either while she was under Rufus’s sway, with Derfel, she
could understand the desire to create something out of their
joining, a little person that would be a piece of both of
them, and continue after they were gone. Linnette’s pregnancy
had reinforced it for her, and while it was not something
Linnesse dwelled on- she did, sometimes, fantasize about what
it would be like for her to be the one carrying a child in her
belly instead. It might even be easier that way- what with
Gedeon being gone, now.
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golden_trillium

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Author: Lancelot
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:44 pm
Lancelot


The knight cocked his head and stared down at the pretty blond
whore. He'd never known this one, and as tired and downtrodden
and agitated as he was, he found her fascinating. Why not at
least talk with the girl?

He was certain Arthur was busy with others, at any rate. What
had Lancelot to do for him, save reporting on the knights that
were in their same state as this morning, and hiding yet
another fight from him? Or perhaps he could go to the
commander's quarters and be yelled at - again - by the lovely
Optio?

Mmmm. Just how he wanted to spend his evening.

Catherine
 
"But you have never had my sex... how can you know a
thing about it before trying it? Besides... we don't
have to kiss."


A laugh burst out of Lancelot's throat, and he leaned his head
a bit closer to her hand as she touched lightly at his curls.
"You are a brazen one, love. A trait I admire in women. And
no, I've not had a ... taste of you, yet." His voice dropped
into huskiness, and he winked his good eye, and then winced
when the skin around his bruise pulled. He sighed.

"Do you have a room here? I'd like to take a few moments to
rest and perhaps eat - and I would find it most pleasing to
have such beautiful company as yours. My barrack accomodations
are no place for a lady." The decorative, somewhat false smile
played about his face again. "I must report to the commander,
but later. He can wait for me."

As I always follow him.

As I always wish to.

He swallowed hard, and felt in his pocket surreptitiously for
coin. A few would do it - and ah. He'd just have to pay Gawain
back later - he did have a secret stash of enough to sustain
him for a while, but he'd be damned if he went around talking
about that. Better to play the pauper and to trick the
legionaries into believing he was a dumb, poor, Sarmatian
idiot.

That certainly helped him win at dice.

"And perhaps a wash stand? I still carry the grime of battle,"
although not the real battle, damnedable Galahad, "and would
be most...appreciative of the loan of some water and a cloth."
He widened his smile - he knew it was a dazzling one, and he
also knew his charm would never fail him when he needed it.

Except with the nun. And Arthur.

Lancelot reached out and gripped at Catherine's arm, maybe a
bit too tightly. His lips pulled and his smile become
something of a death's head mask - and he breathed a bit
roughly as his emotions threatened to come to the fore. "Are
you game, my dove?"
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golden_trillium

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Author: lady ione
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:34 pm
Ione


The weaver continued to watch as Linnesse admired the dress.
The lady she had made it for only demanded the best work, so
Ione had put in a lot of hours on the detail, and every
aspect. Well, sometimes she felt her work needed a few tips on
how to do them better. This dress though was one of her better
works....or at least she thought so. "Do you like it?" She
could not resist asking. The style was one she had not tried
before, especially in the bodice which dipped gracefully in
the front, but not really low...just modestly curved. Ione
shifted a bit as her stomach seemed to move a bit under her
cloak. It felt odd to feel the baby move a bit...

Linnesse
 
“You’re pregnant? Congratulations!”


Ione looked down at the lovely ring on her finger with a touch
of sadness. The moment in which Javier had placed it on her
finger had been full of love, and even now, she could still
feel the joy in that moment when he had made love to her over
and over....and the first time after the first woad attack:
Javier had come to care for her after Neeve had left....the
slow tender love they had discovered in each other. "Thank
you," Ione said softly still looking down at the ring. It
would always stay on her finger. She looked up briefly greeted
by the warm smile, and she returned it....but then her head
bowed, and for some odd reason, she suddenly felt like crying.

"I-I fear my beloved Javier will not be returning..." Ione
paused for a moment. "He went back to settle his father's
estate..." She placed her face in her hands, and softly
chocked back a sob. "I am so afraid right now. I do not know
if he'll ever return back to me....I have received no word
from him at all..." Raising her head to the ceiling as if
searching for answers, Ione said, "I will have to raise my
child on my own...I know of no man that would step in and care
for another's child..." The weaver found herself babbling, but
she was trying to put it in words that Linnesse would not look
down on her for....nor anyone else.

Not many had known she was going with Javier, and now that he
was gone, Ione had no man around her so that she could say
that he was the father. No, she did not want to be frowned
upon because she was pregnant, and the fear that Javier had
left her with no intentions of coming back made her even more
afraid of what others thought. Wiping the tears on her cheek
with the back of her hand, she whispered, "I did not know who
to tell, or talk to...Darya...Accolon...vanora...anyone who'd
listen, but right now, I feel alone and scared and need
advice..."

Ione had always longed to be loved and cared for, and she had
found that dream in Javier only to be hit with the realization
that he had maybe played her for a fool. When would she ever
find a loyal, kind, and loving man who would be there for her
forever?
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golden_trillium

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Author: golden_trillium
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:20 pm
Linnesse


Ione
 
"Thank you. I- I fear my beloved Javier will not be
returning...he went back to settle his father's
estate...I am so afraid right now. I do not know if
he'll ever return back to me...I have received no word
from him at all...I will have to raise my child on my
own...I know of no man that would step in and care for
another's child...I did not know who to tell, or talk
to...Darya...Accolon...Vanora...anyone who'd listen, but
right now, I feel alone and scared and need advice..."


"Advice? My sister is in the same position you are, but still
I don't think I have any advice." Feeling a wave of tiredness
return, seemingly accompanying Ione's outpouring of woes,
Linnesse sank down in the chair nearest to her, the one at the
table in front of the dress. Privately she thought Ione was
probably right to fear Javier would not return- it did seem
odd that he would be called so far away, so conveniently soon
after his betrothal to Ione, and not just marry her
immediately and take her with him. And assuming he had known
about the child...well, Ione wasn't the first woman to be used
by a soldier until it was no longer convenient for him. But it
was a bad situation, all around. Linnesse sighed and leaned
her head on her hand, her elbow propped up on the table and
her other hand still holding the blanket around her. It was
chilly in the room, and truthfully she wished very much that
she was back in bed.

"Vanora might- at least I'm sure she'll understand," Linnesse
added, trying to muster an encouraging smile for Ione as she
gestured for the other woman to sit if she wanted to. The head
of the tavern was a kind, sensible, and accepting woman-
Linnesse was sure of that. Darya...well, Linnesse had nothing
good to say about Darya, really, but she would withhold
comment on that, especially since Ione seemed to be numbering
the black-haired woman among those she trusted. Who else had
she mentioned, though? Accolan? Had that been a slip?

"You...you still talk with Accolan?" Linnesse asked
cautiously, leaning a bit forward and searching what she could
see of Ione's face by the light of the single candle. Accolan
had been one of Ione's "loves" quite a while ago, according to
Linnette- but was it possible that Ione did not now know that
the knight was dead? Linnesse's heart seemed to sink like a
stone into her stomach...on top of everything else, she had to
be the bearer of this bad news, too?
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golden_trillium

Admin
Author: Kayla
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:41 pm

Fiona


Fiona hadn't really expected for Galahad to tell her what had
happened and how he had gotten so banged up but a part of her
couldn't help but be a little disappointed when he withheld
the information from her. She supposed that she could have
asked Gawain or someone else who had seen it, but the
curiousity in her had been looking for an answer and at not
receiving one, she normally would have pressed until she found
out what it was. It was clear that the knight was in no mood
for that, however and she wasn't keen on pressing her luck,
especially when she had just messed up a very simple task of
cleaning the wound.

It seemed that her apologies were lost as well and for a few
moments, she didn't know how to react. It had been alright
when she had been cleaning the wound but aside from that, she
wasn't sure what to say to him. Thankfully, her mind was
always working, and she was able to conjure something up, just
so that there wouldn't have to be any silence. She didn't want
to spend time feeling sorry for herself over hurting him.

Galahad
 
"What? Her? S'far as I can remember she has been. I've
not been here as long as most though... I could tell you
the name of a man that'd know what she was like before
either of us was born..."


Fiona nodded at his answer but one of her eyebrows quirked
slightly at the last part of his words and the way that his
face changed when he said them, almost as if the person he was
thinking about wasn't someone that was top on his friends list
- actually, more like on the very bottom. She tilted her head,
taking in his expression for a moment before asking, "Really?
What's his name?" She couldn't be sure what made her ask it,
maybe his reaction and the way he had brought it up made her
curious. Her nature to question things was almost neverending,
whether you were a friend or enemy.

A stir behind the woad caused her to look back and she smiled
slightly when she saw Gawain and Lavinia come up, the woman
looking grumpy as seemed to be routine. "I ... cleaned it as
much as possible," she told the nun. Before I managed to hurt
him, she thought in her head but didn't say it out loud. She'd
come to help and so far, she probably hadn't been as helpful
as she wanted to be.
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