| Welcome to Na The Past. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| October 2008 | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: May 1 2010, 05:17 PM (3,202 Views) | |
| golden_trillium | May 16 2010, 03:30 AM Post #271 |
![]()
|
Author: Elessars Girl Date: Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:46 pm Arthur As Arthur walked, Tristan joined him on his left as he’d indicated while Lancelot fell into step at his right. The three were an impressive sight as they began to cross the open courtyard beneath the midday light. And even though Arthur felt the heat from the sun overhead, a cold wind still nipped at his cheeks, dry lips and somehow found a path beneath his cloak to encase his spine in ice.
“Oh?” The word slipped out of Arthur’s mouth on its own accord; his gaze instantly intensified with interest in learning what Tristan knew.
Arthur’s pace slowed to a stop as Lancelot, too, completely halted at the Commander’s side. Arthur raised his hand to lightly touch at Tristan’s sleeve and urge the scout to continue with whatever it was that he knew or suspected. Arthur trusted Tristan’s instincts completely and if there was something more to the prisoner escape last night….the Commander needed to know about it now. Arthur’s hopes in making peace with Merlin were fading…..something was ‘off’ here. Arthur could feel it in his bones, but he couldn’t place exactly what it was….not yet at any rate.
At hearing Lancelot’s voice, Arthur turned to meet his lieutenant’s eyes – black as pitch and yet….. “What else do you suspect?” Arthur’s question was directed at Tristan….but his gaze never turned from Lancelot. There was something in the other man’s eyes that had the hair on the back of Arthur’s neck standing straight up. Green eyes were open to the Sarmatian even if Arthur’s emotional mask was in place. Lancelot had been uncharacteristically vulnerable - emotionally bare - earlier this morning before they had left Arthur’s quarters. But Arthur had not taken advantage of that moment…..perhaps he should have. Not Arthur’s way though…so he had walked away instead; closed himself off from Lancelot. But something was there still……pain, sorrow, accusation? Arthur could not be sure…Lancelot had become more difficult for Arthur to read in recent times…or had Arthur let go of the need to understand the other man? No matter…now was not the time. Voices and the sounds of horses could be heard on the wind and Arthur’s long crimson cloak streamed out behind him undaunted by the tension in the air. He turned from Lancelot – the spell seemingly broken - and once again focused on Tristan and duty. “Perhaps I have been too generous in giving quarter to Merlin’s people,” Arthur said dryly. The Commander licked at his bottom lip and then gave a tight smile at Tristan; hands forming fists at his side as he continued…. “If you discover any mischief by Fiona or Neeria in my absence,” Arthur’s voice low and hardened as he then turned back to Lancelot. “Turn out all of Merlin’s people that are still sheltered here…send them out through the northern gates back to their own. Or I will do it myself when I return should Merlin refuse to make peace,” Arthur slightly lowered his chin; determined to send away anyone who would cause difficulty within the fortress walls. He was loathe to act with such cruelty, but something seemed to nag at Arthur’s conscience…..every Woad Arthur had attempted to show mercy to in recent times had betrayed his trust. ….or was it more to do with Lancelot’s close proximity? Arthur then began to walk again; albeit at a slightly slower pace as to allow Tristan to speak on what else he may know before the three men reached the group at the stables. Arthur’s gaze began to assess the men gathered there…determination began to once again dominate the Commander’s expression and despite the dull ache in his side, Arthur appeared as he always did: confident and ready to face any adversity. |
![]() |
|
| golden_trillium | May 16 2010, 03:35 AM Post #272 |
![]()
|
Author: golden_trillium Date: Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:16 pm Tristan
Arthur had halted in his tracks, and Tristan stopped too, meeting the Commander's eyes as Arthur placed his hand lightly on his sleeve. But there was nothing else- did there need to be? "That's it. But I'm certain." Tristan shrugged, dislodging Arthur's hand from his arm, and tossed Lancelot a challenging look before dropping his eyes and starting to walk again. Truthfully, he was a bit frustrated that he was not able to offer more than that. Besides Fiona, it seemed clear that someone else had been of assistance to the little Woad- two sets of footprints had been found outside the gate, and yet Fiona was still in the fort, and she could not have left it and then come back in. Traitors...enemies. Tristan blew out a restless breath as he continued walking- then, turning his head back to Arthur again, noted with a very soft snort that Arthur and Lancelot's gazes were fixed firmly on each other, though both had been talking ostensibly to him. Something was going on there- those two had a connection that Tristan, with his keen sense of observation, had long understood to exist, though the exact nature of it he couldn't be sure of. It seemed like something had happened, though- something significant, recently. But the scout would say nothing, merely add the information to his store of knowledge without further comment, and remember it later if it should be called for. That was all. Tristan returned his eyes to the front as the stable and the group of men and horse outside it grew nearer, and as Arthur spoke again.
Tristan could only give a grim, tight smile of agreement to that, as Arthur met his eyes again; it was true, in his opinion, and he was glad Arthur was realizing that. Had realized it, hopefully, perhaps with Lancelot to prod him. The Commander turned back to the First Knight.
"Hmp." Tristan grunted and nodded with satisfied approval of that order, though Arthur had not been giving it to him. Turn out all the Woads- exactly what the scout himself would have done, only he would have done it sooner. When they got back was better than never, though, and Tristan had little enough hopes that there would be peace. There hadn't been last time, had there, agreements aside! The words of the Woads meant nothing. The words of Romans, however...as the three men slowed down and neared the group outside the stables, Tristan's keen ears caught a muttered remark from the rough bullyish looking man, Karl, something about...
"Up your ass," Tristan answered promptly under his breath, as he passed Karl on his way to his own horse. His words were barely a whisper, perhaps heard by no one, but to retort gave Tristan a sense of grim satisfaction, and a small, mean smile settled on his face as he took Tirgatao's reigns. Optio Amadeus was there...Captain Barbattus wasn't...everything seemed ready to go, as soon as Arthur gave the word. And the sooner we get going, the sooner we turf the Woads out. Tristan's gaze slid over to the hawk, on Darya's arm where she stood by the stable wall chatting with that woman who worked there. She seemed all right- well, both of them seemed all right. It was time to damned well get out of here and get this over with. |
![]() |
|
| golden_trillium | May 16 2010, 03:36 AM Post #273 |
![]()
|
Author: lady ione Date: Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:01 am Adian As he fit the cut piece of lumber in place, Adian smiled slightly. It was a snug fit and would work well. But did it look okay? The carpenter stood back from his work and cocked his head to one side, judging the new piece with a keen eye. To make mistakes would mean unstable buildings, and that was the last thing he wanted. The occurance that happened next took him by surprise, and made him wonder if he was just going insane for the piece of wood he studied seemed to take on the form of a face....sort of.... Adian blinked for a moment, and shook his head as though to clear what he was seeing, but the vision would not leave. The face had little dimension... it was there but it wasn't. As he watched, the eyes opened and just stared at him blankly... unseeing. It's mouth hung opened as if wanting to speak and the shoulder length hair blew about it as if moved by wind. Holy damnations! I have to start getting sleep at night... Adian knew the face and upper body well. It could only be Thorn for the lower half of her body was missing, and the way the hair looked... the eyes.... her mouth.... He did not scare well, and had always reserved his belief in ghosts to legends and such, but he had never seen one. Until now. For a while, he couldn't move, and his mouth seemed to form words that just would not come. 'Thorn...' he whispered barely audible to anyone around. The ghost's eyes were unmoving, but still had a tinge of accusation in them, it's mouth beginning to move as it slowly vanished from his sight. Even after it was gone, Adian just stood there as if unable to move and his hands became cold, though he did get out a low, 'Damnation... what the hell ? ' He was about to lift the hammer in his hand and noticed that he was shaking. Slowly, he walked over to the wall he had been working at and sunk down against it giving himself a bit of a break to try to calm his nerves. Adian knew why the ghost had come, and he had to remedy the situation: He had not been there to protect her when she died, and they had not parted with words of love and comfort, but had left her and the child to die alone and in a horrific way.... to have her lower body severed almost from the upper half. Adian could not longer ignore her death as he had tried to do. Tonight, he'd take her sword to a makeshift gravesite, and pay his respects to the only woman who had truly believed in him... |
![]() |
|
| golden_trillium | May 16 2010, 03:38 AM Post #274 |
![]()
|
Author: LadyCastus Date: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:10 am Karl and Titrus Karl let Brutus step forward a bit then pulled back, letting the horse know that was far enough.
Karl's smile turned into a scowl. He wanted to say something more, but the optio was too close to him. He'd save his tongue lashing for later once they got going. He wouldn't soon forget Tristan's flippant response. The fucking freak. He watched the scout through narrowed slits as Tristan mounted and settled into the saddle. Damned Sarmatians. Him with his tattoes and his braids. What's so special about him? . Karl reached in his pouch and tossed more nuts into his mouth. "What are you looking at?" he asked Brendyn who seemed like he couldn't take his eyes off of Karl. "You lusting me or something, boy?" the Roman added nastily. "That's enough, Karl!" Titrus chimed in. "We'll be headed out soon so sit still and shut the fuck up!" Titrus wasn't about to put with Karl's nonsense. "I knew this would happen," the lieutenant muttered over to Quintus. "He's got a big mouth and is nothing but trouble." Titrus looked back over at the table across the way and noticed that Catherine and Malcus had disappeared. Titrus still wasn't sure why the captain suggested that Karl go with them. But then it dawned on him that Karl would be better off going with the group because there would be unlimited opportunity for him to get into trouble with Arthur and the optio gone and the captain under "house arrest." It all suddenly made sense. "The captain sent Karl because he wouldn't be able to keep an eye on him, Quint!" Titrus said out of the corner of his mouth. Karl looked at Titrus and said, "I'm just breaking the new pup in lieutenant - seeing what he's made of, that's all." "Make sure that that IS all," Titrus answered back. Karl looked back at Brendyn and flashed him a wicked smile. "Yeah pup, I'll break you in alright," and kept chewing on his nuts. |
![]() |
|
| golden_trillium | May 16 2010, 03:41 AM Post #275 |
![]()
|
Author: golden_trillium Date: Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:35 pm Quintus
"Yeah," Quintus muttered in dark agreement, shaking his head as he followed Karl with his eyes. He hadn't heard the exchange between Karl and the Sarmatian scout, but he had seem lips move, and knew something had been said, something undoubtedly rude, and Karl's snap at Brendyn only seemed to confirm that. What the hell kind of attatchment to Karl did Captain Barbattus have, anyway, that he'd send him along on this mission? It was a fucking disaster waiting to happen! Quintus kept his expression schooled to one of military efficiency, his eyes returning expectantly to the Commander, though he continued to watch Karl out of the corner of them. From beside him, though, Titrus spoke again, out of the corner of his mouth.
"Plenty of others could've," Quintus muttered sideways back, eyes on the swirl of the Commander's red cape. It was lunacy, sending Karl on this mission just as a way of keeping an eye on him- he was more likely to ruin everything. And, in fact, despite the presence of Arthur, the soldier was still running his mouth from just behind Titrus and Quintus.
"Shut the fuck up," Quintus hissed fiercely, turning his head momentarily and pinning Karl with an icy stare, before snapping his gaze forwards again. If this kept up, he could probably count on even more curfew than he had already been assigned- in fact, all four of the Romans on this trip might be lucky not to end up on stable-mucking duty and in disgrace. |
![]() |
|
| golden_trillium | May 16 2010, 03:43 AM Post #276 |
![]()
|
Author: LadyCastus Date: Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:58 pm Henry Henry pulled his wool jacket up close around his ears as he scurried down the narrow walkway that led to prison cells. He looked over his shoulder at Commander Castus who had just left the dungeons. Henry smiled. He admired the Commander and hoped he could be like Arthur one day. The young man puffed his little bird-like chest out and balled his fists, curving them towards his body. He pursed his lips and lifted his chin. He slowed his scamper and took long, deliberate strides. Henry was sure he looked just like Arthur. "Captain sent me to release one of the prisoners," Henry said to the guard, "by his orders." "Alright Henry," the guard said with a yawn. Henry was well known so there was no reason for the guard to doubt him. "Who is it?" the guard asked scratching the scraggly new growth on his face. "The stablemaster," Henry replied as they walked down the long corridor and around the corner. When they got to the cell, the guard pulled out his large key ring and searched for the right one to unlock the cell door. When he'd found the correct key, he opened the heavy door with a grunt. "Hey Mirtha," he said looking at the man sitting in the dark in the back of the cell. "Looks like you've gotten a reprieve. You're free to go." |
![]() |
|
| golden_trillium | May 16 2010, 03:47 AM Post #277 |
![]()
|
Author: lady ione Date: Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:39 pm Brendyn Brendyn had just about had enough of this soldier's insults to those in the group, and it took all of his control to keep from just decking the man off of his horse. It was even worse to think that he had to ride next to Karl, and behind Quintus and Titrus. There were times when Antonius had shouted insults at he and the others in his old legion at Aesica... especially during inspections. He Had wondered how the Scout was going to respond, and Brendyn could not help but contain an inward smirk when Tristan responded though he really could not make out what was said. Whatever it was allowed Brendyn to catch the dark scowl that passed over Karl's face. So, he could dish it out, but he could not take it? The side of Brendyn's mouth twitched, silently hoping the man would just choke on his nuts and die....though that was only wishful thinking. The young man turned his head to eagerly watch Arthur's approach when suddenly...
Hate to disappoint you, my arrogant friend, but men don't interest me as much as a lovely woman...and even if you were a woman, I wouldn't even pay a half a sou for your company.. came the thought though Brendyn kept quiet, his eyes on Arthur's authoritative form, his expression neutral. Brendyn would have defended himself, and would have loved to give Karl the thrashing he deserved, but what honor would that bring? To fight just because someone is having a bad "pickle up their arse" day? Brendyn saw no point in wasting his energy fighting, so he basically ignored the comment. He flashed a glance at Titrus and Quintus wondering if they were thinking of his non defensive behaviour. Did he look weak by not saying anything?...
Brendyn knew if he said anything now, he'd be in trouble again. His proud barring and that of Tyranus masked the embarrassment well. Damn it all! He was a trained soldier, not a child, and children often fought over petty things. Brendyn remained silent and left the insults come like a battering ram....he'd be damned if he was going to drop his guard for Karl. It was a matter of honor for him, and to break down a just respond would not have looked good. Brendyn wondered whether he was handling this the right way as the conversation became slightly more audible...
Pup? Break me in? Seeing what I am made of? Be glad I don't have the time. Who in the hell was he kidding? Brendyn felt embarrassed at this, and hoped he was not looking weak by not saying anything that would start fight #2. Brendyn slowly turned again in his saddle, eyes narrowed, and saw the wicked grin pass over Karl's face. Any other soldier would have been lashed and flayed at Aesica under Antonius.... such behavior would not be tolerated for an instant. Brendyn returned his gaze on his new Commander, and decided that eventually Karl would get what was coming to him. Brendyn's gaze darkened, and finally addressed karl saying, "How in the hell did you get to be a soldier anyway? So far you have shown disrespect to those you serve, and you have insulted those here. You cannot even show respect to the Commander while he is approaching. To act in such a manner as this would mean that you are some kind of coward trying to make yourself bigger and better than the rest when you are not," Brendyn held the man's gaze with unwavering intensity, but not harshly. "You have shown disrespect to those in authority over you, and those you are serving with... Why have you showered me with insults when I have done nothing to you?" Brendyn fell silent after this. He could have yelled, yes, but what purpose would that have served but to start an incident in the plain view of the Commander? Under the calm exterior, Brendyn inwardly gritted his teeth and bit back whatever retort waited there. |
![]() |
|
| « Previous Topic · Vincit Omnia Veritas · Next Topic » |
| Theme: Zeta Original | Track Topic · E-mail Topic | 2:25 PM Jul 11 |







