|
Post by pallas on Feb 28, 2024 18:41:16 GMT
For Clan main story
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Feb 28, 2024 18:41:38 GMT
Lilith had received the message from Elena informing her that the other woman would be arriving fairly soon with the intention of merging their camps for a while.
She had no idea why. To do so would involve Elena moving her whole camp, not just her men and the prisoner but also all of their equipment and supplies. It was no small undertaking, and not one to be taken lightly. Sometimes the two would merge camps like this for safety, but if there was a threat to be concerned about, Lilith’s own scouts would have informed her of it. So this move had a different cause, but one that was a mystery to Lilith.
Regardless, she informed her people of the development and set to work doing some rearranging within her own camp to make sure everything was ready for Elena’s arrival. There would be plenty of space for Elena’s people and their tents. She even arranged for extra food to be cooked so that Elena’s people could focus on unpacking and setting up their camp again rather than on cooking. Say whatever you want about Lilith (a hostess she was not, despite what recent events with Atlas and this development with Elena might have one believe), but she took pride in having a well-run camp and making sure things ran efficiently. She’d also instructed scouts to watch for Elena’s entry into her territory and ensure she was able to reach Lilith’s camp safely, including by passing on messages to any of Lilith’s men guarding her territory or working in the forest that Elena was to be allowed to enter and pass through Lilith’s territory without impediment.
With the instructions given, she helped with the set-up where she could and generally supervised the work, waiting for any sign of Elena and her people. Despite the distraction of making the necessary arrangements for the Siren’s arrival, Lilith couldn’t help but wonder why on Earth the woman was coming. Whatever it was, it had to be important. She could glean nothing from the letter, aside from the fact that it was clearly not so incredibly urgent that Elena couldn’t give her notice. Still, that left many questions.
What on earth could possibly have made Elena want to do this?
The woman pushed that thought aside for the moment, pausing to stand in the centre of her camp to survey the results of the work. It would do, she thought. She’d made plenty of space for Elena and her people, hopefully, and all was prepared for their arrival. It wouldn’t be enough space for Elena’s camp as she usually had it set up in her usual spot, given the space available, but Lilith had condensed her camp a little and Elena would hopefully have done the same to make sure there was enough room for both of them. It was only temporary, anyway. She hoped.
”Madam.”
The breathless voice from behind Lilith was unexpected and the woman tensed, only to find as the speaker appeared to her side that it was one of Lilith’s scouts. He’d come from the same forest path Elena would shortly be arriving by with her men. Lilith turned her head to the side to look at the scout; she said nothing, but her attention was enough invitation for him to speak.
”The Siren has now crossed into our territory, with her supplies and her men.”
Lilith nodded, dismissing the scout with a nod of her head toward the firepit to invite the man to get some food should he wish to do so. God knew they had enough now. He vanished from her side.
This was good news. Elena would not be far behind the scout. She would be slower because of the size of her group and everything they were carrying, but she could expect her very soon she suspected.
Time to find out what this mystery was about.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by Leo/ Clundy on Mar 1, 2024 6:26:28 GMT
She in fact was not slow as expected.
Elena had acquired a horse and rode ahead straight into Lilith's camp right after the messenger. Her party was not too far behind her and there was no worry for her safety since this was a temporary ally's camp.
The horse pounded it's hooves into the grounded as it trotted to a stop and snorted with a shake of its head. The horse shifted and fidgeted, pawing at the ground and swishing its tail as Elena pulled on the reigns and grinned at her rival.
"I bring gifts," she called before tossing a bottle of alcohol her way. Not caring if Lilith caught it or if it shattered on the dirt. That would be the only one she'd gift her. "And in the meantime perhaps you'll give me some answers to my questions, hm?"
Voices and equipment could be heard coming from the trees behind Elena. Horses pulling carts filled with weapons, tents, and other such equipment. Her men chatted and laughed amongst themselves as they carried things on their shoulders and waved towards some of the members in Lilith's group. Reed was escorting one burned and malnourished Verndari soldier forward by a rope lead.
Elena raised her head and shouted at him to get his attention. "Tonto, asegúrate de mantenerlo alejado del principito de Lilith. He hasn't been good enough for a reward," she instructed. When she got a nod and possibly a grunt in confirmation from him she looked over her people and urged her horse to walk towards them a few steps.
"Crius, where is ella pequeña ratón?" she asked. Amusement was starting to creep into her tone as she looked to her ward as he pointed in Minke's direction.
|
|
|
Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Mar 7, 2024 18:57:16 GMT
Minke had been quiet and strangely obedient since Elena mentioned something about one of her sisters. She made no moves to escape the clutches of the woman, and instead had kept to herself. Sometimes she'd hang around Crius, but she would let him speak. She felt more comfortable around him than the others. He was her age, and while Reed had been kind to her, she didn't trust kindness all that much, not anymore. This whole thing felt like another trap. Another person promising her to find her sisters and using her for their own gain. But like the hopeful, lost girl she was, she fell into it again. Surely nothing Elena could concoct would be worse than what King Drake had done. When they made to move camps, Minke had stuck close to Crius, silent and brooding and trying her best not to get her hopes up. Would her sisters even recognize her anymore? Would they see their sister in this shell she'd become? The brooding, unhappy, hardened, and vengeful spirit that would stand before them? How had they changed? Had they...looked for her? As they entered the new camp, she trailed Crius. Too many people were there, and her eyes were wary. She felt weak without her abilities, constrained by these stupid shackles she couldn't off. She was proud, yes, but pride didn't mean she was stupid. She'd never be able to escape such a hoard of people should they make a move to attack her, utilize the weapon they'd see before them. She heard Elena speaking up ahead, talking to Reed who was leading a strangely familiar man by the lead. The man was malnourished and burned, and it reminded her strangely of the treatment she herself had received. It brought some pity to her mind, but she couldn't stand for pity or weakness. No one had saved her, and so she had no need to be a hero and save this man. Who knew? Perhaps he had greatly wronged the Siren. She wouldn't get involved. But then Crius was asked about where the pequeña ratón was. Minke recognized it as the title Elena had bestowed upon her, though she didn't know for sure what it meant. It sounded like rat, the second word, so she doubted it was anything nice. She finally stepped away from Crius then, glancing at Elena and the woman beside her. A towering figure, she was, with dark hair, and an intimidating structure. As Minke's eyes locked on her, she froze mid-step, like a frightened deer. Because what was before her was nothing but a ghost. Some cruel, cruel joke. An illusion made up by magic. The girl before her seemed to flicker between a regal one with vibrant purple eyes and the intimidating, hardened creature that stood there with slate-grey eyes and dressed for a fight. "Briseis?" Her voice was soft, barely able to be heard. Her eyes, hidden by the draw on her abilities and masked by the softest of lavenders, seemed almost bright, perhaps due to how wide they were. Her feet frozen in place, unable to move, voice choked. She was barely breathing, both horrified and relieved. Emotions battling in her chest, far stronger than she could handle.
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Mar 7, 2024 19:20:02 GMT
Elena was even quicker than Lilith could’ve expected. The woman turned at the sound of hoofbeats to be greeted with the sight of Elena arriving on a horse. Should’ve known she’d ride a little ahead of her party.
The Siren threw her a bottle of alcohol, which Lilith reached out and caught. It was a shame Atlas was no longer there to enjoy this new delivery - though he may be happier to avoid Elena - but she was sure it would get plenty of use anyway.
”Thank you.” Lilith said as she passed the bottle to one of her men to hold onto for the moment, but she hadn’t missed Elena’s comment about answering her questions. ”Well, that rather depends on what you want to ask.”
Lilith had tried her hardest to control what she gave away about herself when it came to Elena. There were things she was willing to share, tactically, because Elena traded on secrets. But there were other things she absolutely had no intention of sharing with her rival.
But surely Elena had not come all this way to ask a couple of questions? They could’ve talked anytime over a drink as they sometimes did, with no need to move her whole camp. There was more to this.
As Elena’s party arrived, some of the men waving at men from the opposite group, Lilith nodded some of her people forward to help Elena’s group with their supplies.
”Some of my people are at your disposal to help you unload. There is also food ready for your men once you have set up.” Lilith explained.
She cast a glance over Elena’s party, giving a polite nod of greeting to Reed. She spared only a brief glance at the young guard, but she didn’t need to look at him for long to see what kind of state he was in. His cheek was cut, and it seemed he had been burned too. He looked malnourished and was a little unsteady on his feet, likely due to having been immobile for an extended time. If he wasn’t a young and strong prisoner he might have fared worse. It seemed that Elena was punishing him - maybe he’d tried to escape? But Lilith thought back to Elena’s contained rage when she’d first seen him and knew there was something else going on there. She had her own questions.
She noticed that despite looking worse for wear and tired he did seem alert, and in fact seemed to be trying to get as much of a sense as he was able to of Lilith’s camp. Possibly he was hoping for any sign of the prince or where he might be kept. She could imagine what he was thinking; that for the first time since being handed over to Lilith and Elena, the two prisoners were in the same place. Perhaps he was considering the possibility of escape with the boy.
She wouldn’t be hopeful if she were him.
Elena gave some sort of instruction to Reed about the prisoner, and the man’s focus seemed to return to Elena and Lilith as opposed to their surroundings.
At that point the Siren then began to speak to Crius, seemingly asking where someone or something was. And worse, Lilith could hear the amusement in Elena’s voice. It was like the woman was playing with her or something, which she didn’t much appreciate.
”Elena, what is this about-“ she began to ask in irritation.
”Briseis?”
It didn’t matter how softly the name was spoken. It could’ve reached her across mountains. That name she hadn’t heard in years now.
And suddenly there she was, a small figure among Elena’s crowd that stepped forward into fuller view. The sight of her made Lilith feel like her lungs couldn’t draw breath. She wasn’t thirteen anymore, but it was unmistakably her. Hair cut short, eyes less vibrant. A little older, a lot more world-weary. Lilith couldn’t judge her for that, because she knew how much she herself had changed since her days in Alexandria. It was still her.
Normally she was the kind of person who was cautious about things that seemed too good to be true. Would be questioning if this was real. But in that moment she didn’t want to believe there was any chance it wasn’t real. She was feeling too much.
”Este?” Lilith breathed, before approaching the girl. A little slowly and cautiously, as if worried she’d disappear. ”Este… Minke.”
She wrapped the girl in a hug, aware of the fact that she was filled with such shock and relief that she was shaking a little. She was normally so good at hiding her emotions, especially in front of Elena, but she couldn’t hide it this time. It was taking everything in her not to sob, actually.
She wasn’t even normally a hugger, far from it. But for her sisters?
”You’re alive. You’ve been alive all this time.” Lilith’s voice was thick with emotion. She’s stopped dreaming, even daring to hope, that her sisters were alive. And yet here she was. Who knew what she’d been through while they’d been separated, all the things Lilith had been unable to protect her from.
Not to mention… did this mean Athena could also be alive? Hoping for that felt too dangerous, too much like hurt. But she couldn’t shake the idea that it was possible.
She released her sister, putting her hands on the younger girl’s shoulders to get a better look at her. ”You’ve grown.” Lilith said softly.
The woman was aware of Callan’s attention on her. Probably he was trying to figure out if he knew them, if he’d ever seen them. He wouldn’t have ever seen them, she knew that much. The Lenores were too private. But he would probably be aware of them.
At that point, though, Lilith looked over at Elena. She knew the woman would probably use this against her; it was valuable information. Finally something that made Lilith vulnerable. And no doubt this was what her questions were about. She wasn’t sure exactly might do to take advantage of this.
”How…” Lilith looked first at Minke and then at Elena, ”How did you come to have her in your care?”
She couldn’t believe this. Any of it. But she felt happier than she had in years.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by Leo/ Clundy on Mar 7, 2024 22:35:38 GMT
Watching the two reunite was almost enough to warm Elena's cold dead heart. She simply sat atop her steed as it exhaled sharply and shifted from side to side with a smile on her face. It wasn't kind however. It was a smug smile that said she'd put the pieces together correctly.
Nestling her head in a hand and resting her elbow on the saddle she let her eyes land on Lilith - or Briseis as Minke had just called her - and decided to answer her question honestly.
"She found me," she began simply with a shrug. "Snuck in, tried to steal our food, and when she got caught she called me a 'dog eared halfwitted enchantress' and a 'hard-backed hag' while holding herself like she was important," Elena laughed. But there a bit of a threat behind her words and laugh. She was sure Lilith was smart enough to figure out why there was an edge in her voice. "She reminded me of you and your insults."
With a heavy sigh herself, Elena dismounted her horse and gestured for one of her men to take him from her. As she stepped up to the two, Elena's smile remained smug and sly while her gaze turned cold and hard.
"I believe you know what questions i'm going to ask," she muttered to the oldest. She stood there for a moment, making her point before walking around them and heading to Lilith's tent. She looked over her shoulder as she walked, her gaze warming as she addressed Minke this time.
"Pequeña ratón, do you wish to join us?" she called back. "I'd hate to separate sisters again so soon. And I'm beginning to tolerate you."
|
|
|
Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Mar 8, 2024 0:00:59 GMT
The young girl, edging closer to turning 17 as every day passed, stared at her sister, frozen. She could still see that day clearly, seeing Briseis smile that morning at breakfast, and her horror when the attack came. She remember Briseis running, trying to find Maylea. She remembered having to run herself, when the horrors neared. When they almost took her as their victim too. Turned her to stone, like the others. A horrible caricature of life, still and silent and forever unmoving.
She thought perhaps Maylea and Briseis had fallen to the same fate as their mother. But Briseis was there, before her.
The woman was approaching her, and she held her breath. She'd know Briseis anywhere, but what if this was some changeling or illusion wearing her face.
But that name, Este, it was one only her family knew. Her eyes, flooded with unshed tears, refused to move from her sister.
As Briseis hugged her, Estelle wrapped her arms tightly around her sister, a sob escaping her as she buried her head into her sister's side. It was a strong grip, potentially painful, as if letting go would mean losing Briseis all over again. Her sobs were quiet, and if it wasn't for the dampness being left on her sister's shirt or the shaking of her shoulders, it would be impossible to even tell.
The fingers, balled into the fabric of Briseis' shirt curled tighter into fists, when Lilith backed up slightly, looking at her and commenting on how she'd grown. It broke her from the trance she was in, her relieved look switching to fury.
"You told me you'd never leave me!" She commented, voice breaking through the words, emotion swimming in her eyes and broken-hearted, fists shaking at her side,"You were gone! you left me!" well, not physically. She wasn't accusing Briseis or mad at her for going after their sister. She was mad at herself for losing her siblings. She was asking why Briseis would ever allow herself to be thought dead. It wasn't a question that begged answering.
She grabbed out at her sister though when Elena commented on needing to speak to her, afraid of letting her sister out of her sight. But then Elena invited her as well, and she looked over at the woman she thought she detested. Her gaze was thankful, unbelieving, and filled with more emotion than she'd felt in possibly years.
She nodded once, unable to bring up any words. Tears still silently tracked down her face, but they were from happiness. She looked back for Crius, assuring that her friend was still there in the crowd, as if looking away would cause him to disappear too, and followed after her sister into her tent. Her voice was soft as she spoke again, when it was just them, wiping at her face with her free hand, trying to hide evidence that her emotions existed. "She keeps calling me that," she said, softly, trying to get back some control of her emotions, but her voice lacked it's usual spite and sarcasm. Glancing at Elena, she continued, "The rat thing."
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Mar 8, 2024 0:34:13 GMT
Lilith hugged her sister harder when she felt the sob rack her body, and found herself trying to take in everything about that moment. She’d spent so long thinking her sister was dead, wishing for just one more moment with her. And here she was, alive and solid.
But she was angry. Lilith could see the switch in her, and then she began talking about how Lilith had left her.
”I never meant to.” Lilith answered ”I lost you that day and afterwards I tried to find you, both of you, but… but I couldn’t find any leads. I thought you were both gone.”
She didn’t want to say she’d given up, because it might sound harsh to Minke, like she’d given up on her. It was just that she barely knew how to carry the pain of losing her without the pain of the hope that she might still be alive.
Elena explained how she’d come to meet Minke, and Lilith glanced at her sister when Elena mentioned the insults. Of course that was what had given them away. ”Thank you for caring for her. I apologise for any trouble she gave you.” Lilith said to the Siren.
Elena was angry, though, Lilith could tell. From her words it seemed that she was able to tell from Minke’s manner that she was a noble. And Elena did not like nobles in the least, which meant this was about to be a very interesting conversation.
She nodded when the woman said Lilith knew what questions she was going to ask. Of course she did. And she suspected Elena already had some suspicions about the answers anyway. Still, she made to follow Elena toward her tent, sticking close to her sister as she did.
Minke mentioned something about Elena’s nickname for her, and Lilith smiled. ”Oh, Elena likes nicknames.” Lilith said by way of explanation. ”They’re rarely flattering.”
The woman entered the tent after Elena, putting an arm around her little sister and meeting the other woman’s eyes. She had a lot of difficult explaining to do, but she might as well get some of it out of the way without Elena having to ask. She took a deep breath.
”The real Lilith Killoran is dead. I got the name off a gravestone.” Lilith began. ”My name is Briseis, as you now know, and this is my youngest sister.”
So far, nothing groundbreaking. Mostly things Elena already knew. But now was the part she knew would make Elena angry, which is why she wanted to rip the bandaid straight off.
”I was the eldest of three sisters, the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Alexandria. One day, the kingdom, it-“ Lilith paused, because she would get through this without breaking her composure. She’d done enough emotional stuff in front of Elena today. ”It was destroyed. Everyone gone, everything lost. My mother gone. I got separated from my sisters and escaped with my life but not knowing if they lived.” She had travelled for miles with the dust from the rubble of her kingdom coating her.”I was alone and ended up with this group to survive.”
”I apologise for lying to you, Elena, but I could not have anyone knowing who I am.” Lilith continued to Elena. She spared a glance to her little sister, hesitant at this point to give too many details about what exactly had happened to her with her old leader since her little sister was right there beside her. ”I’ve been blackmailed and harmed because of my identity and I have to be careful. Besides, I know you hate nobility.”
She had no idea what Elena would do with the information. Though she didn’t know how much worse it was that it was coming out now than it would’ve been if she’d been honest from the start. But she’d lied to everyone, because it was the only way to be safe.
”Does that begin to cover your questions?” Lilith asked, knowing that she may have spawned more questions than she’d just answered. She definitely knew Elena would be angry at the truth of her noble status.
Well, it couldn’t be helped. But whatever happened here, she’d protect Minke. That was all she cared about here.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by Leo/ Clundy on Mar 8, 2024 2:12:06 GMT
Elena threw the tent flaps open dramatically and made herself comfortable in her rival's chair (or the equivalent of what she might have you tell me). She waved off Lilith's apology for her sister. Not because it was forgiven but because it wasn't the topic at hand.
She stretched her arms over her head and lounged comfortably as if she had always lived there and claimed the space for herself. And she waited for Lilith to explain herself.
She stared unblinking at Lilith. Facial expression unreadable as she explained her backstory and confirmed that she was a noble. A princess at that. Of all the things she could be she was a fucking princess. Heir to the problems and snobbiness of a dead kingdom.
Part of her relished the fact that she now had the biggest secret in the world against her rival. She had something over her finally but it was at the cost of Elena's own comfort and sanity. That other and much larger part of her hated that she was now stuck to work with the very thing she despised with her entire being.
"Yes, you do know how I feel about fucking nobles," Elena finally snapped after a long silence between them. Her brow furrowed into a glare and she kept her gaze level with Lilith or Briseis. "Now all of a sudden I'm surrounded by them and I don't have a choice not to be. You're not the only one who's been exploited and wants to avoid that happening again, Maldita perra!"
She leaned forward and pointed an accusatory finger at Briseis. "I'm so excited to have this information over you don't get me wrong, Su Alteza," she spat the title out with disgust, "But so incredibly angry to be right about my suspicious. We'll discuss more later. I don't want to look at your face any longer."
Elena stood up sharply and stormed out of the tent to go manage her people and release some frustration on her prisoner.
|
|
|
Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Mar 8, 2024 17:51:17 GMT
Estelle usually hated touch, because it was usually associated with pain. She happily cuddled into her sister's side, however. She remained quiet as the two discussed their business, Elena's anger was obvious, and Briseis explained some...things.
Lilith? She stole some woman's name off of a gravestone? She went on to explain what happened to them, and Minke's gaze went distant on the discussion of the fall of Alexandria. Her home was so careful. They took in those abused by magic hunters, they remained open on their support, but secret in their identities, and for what?
The comments on being blackmailed and harmed worried Minke. She'd hoped that finding her sister alive meant her sister had been better off than she herself had been. That didn't seem to be the case, though.
As Elena snapped, Minke's eyes showed a bit of understanding and sympathy. Minke had loved her mother, her sisters, and her people. But nobles were cruel. Perhaps not her mother, but she'd met many cruel nobles since.
As Elena left, Minke glanced at her sister, pout on her lips, "I'm sorry Bri-Lil-sister," she had no idea what to call her now, who she even was anymore, "I've caused you to quarrel with your friend of questionable moral standing."
Despite the scathing words, she was apologetic. She just got back, and she was already causing problems for her sister.
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Mar 8, 2024 18:18:23 GMT
Elena was as furious as Lilith would’ve assumed she would be. And Lilith understood. She didn’t regret it, because she’d done what she needed to do to protect herself, but she did understand.
”Elena-“ Lilith tried to call out to the woman as she left, but she cut herself off. What exactly was she planning on saying if she got her to stop?
She’d lied to everyone so she’d had no choice but to lie to Elena? That was true, but it was little comfort to Elena and Lilith couldn’t exactly say she was sure she would’ve told Elena if she’d been given the choice. Giving Elena secrets was dangerous.
She was still the same person and nothing had actually changed? Not true, to Elena everything had changed and she understood that.
None of it mattered. It didn’t matter that Lilith was a princess of a pile of rubble and stone. It didn’t matter why she’d done it. So she fell silent and watched Elena leave. They’d talk later when Elena was calmer and maybe the air would clear a bit. Besides, Lilith had her own questions about Elena’s strong hatred of her prisoner. She wanted to know what was going on there, though right now she didn’t expect any answers.
Said prisoner was probably about to be on the receiving end of Elena’s rage from this conversation. She’d feel bad for him but she was just glad Elena was taking her anger somewhere else.
Elena left them alone, and there was a moment of heavy silence before Minke started to speak. She seemed so uncertain, unsure of where she and Lilith stood now. She didn’t want her to ever feel like that.
”First of all, I am always to you as I always was. Lilith is not for you, she is for everyone else.” Lilith was for the people who wanted to hurt them. Lilith was the person who could be what she needed to keep herself safe. Assertive, strong, maybe sometimes cruel, cold or brutal. ”For you, I’m still Briseis.” Briseis and all the other nicknames her sisters had called her.
”Second, do not apologise. Elena was always going to find out who I was one way or another, and the quarrel was not your fault.” Lilith didn’t want Minke to believe for a second, after everything she’d been through that her arrival had been an inconvenience. ”I am nothing but glad that you’re here. But for now, we have a lot of catching up to do.”
They had not seen one another in so long. She wanted to know everything about what had happened with Minke while they had been separated.
”Tell me everything.”
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by Leo/ Clundy on Mar 8, 2024 19:38:45 GMT
Elena only had to look for Reed to know where he had put their prisoner. She stormed passed him, only giving a look that he would understood and a couple muttered words under her breath. "Malditos nobles. ¡Están jodiendo por todos lados!"
Pushing her way into the tent she glared at Callan as she approached slowly. "I need you to be truthful today, Darling," she warned with narrowed eyes and a hiss in her voice. "I have had enough of liars for the day."
She stopped just in front of him before crouching and grabbed the underside of his jaw with one hand. Not tightly but just enough. She turned his head to the side so he'd have to look at her through one eye. "Are you excited to be here? Hoping to catch a glimpse of the princling, Verndari? Hoping to escape this time?"
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Mar 8, 2024 20:10:40 GMT
Callan had been moved and secured inside a tent shortly after Elena had gone to speak to Lilith. It evidently hadn’t been a long conversation, because he could hear Elena’s voice shortly afterwards. He had the feeling from there that it wouldn’t be long before she came to see him, especially because she sounded so angry.
He was right.
She appeared and as she approached him started talking to him about needing him to be truthful. Calling him darling. She was full of rage, it was obvious. What the hell had Lilith said to offend her so much?
He had never tried to lie, but he thought better of insisting so at that point. Elena was clearly angry and provoking that too much seemed like a terrible idea, as tempting as it might be in a way.
She took hold of the underside of his jaw, turning his head to one side so the only way he could look at her was through one eye. His instinct to pull away from the contact would not serve him, since it was impossible, so he reacted as little as possible. Partly because he was tired by this point, emotionally as much as anything, and partly because he was used to this by now.
She wanted the truth. She could have it. After all, she couldn’t possibly expect him to say he wouldn’t leave if the opportunity arose. Anyone would.
”You know what my answer is.” the guard replied. ”My duty is to the prince. If I saw a chance, of course I’d go. But not without him.”
He would love to see Carlo, but he knew if he did see him it would probably be because Elena was using him against him. So Callan almost hoped he didn’t see him.
What was all this about? Why was she here, asking him all this? She obviously wanted something out of this, but he didn’t know what. Maybe nothing more than taking out her anger.
”Your talk didn’t go well, I assume.” Callan muttered. Only reason she’d be here with him.
|
|
|
Post by Leo/ Clundy on Mar 8, 2024 22:16:42 GMT
Her grip shifted so that she was digging her nails into his cheeks and turned his head so their noses where mere inches apart.
"This is not about me, Mascota," she whispered sharply.
She didn't want to talk about her feelings and her prisoner. He worked for the nobility. He protected them he dared to love them and call them family. He himself held status whether he realized it or not.
Elena shifted so she had one knee on the ground as she leaned an inch closer as she sneered.
"So loyal like a dog," She observed looking him up and down. "Because of some myth? You don't see the evil you're protecting?"
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Mar 8, 2024 22:56:37 GMT
So this was about nobility. About how evil they were, about how they weren’t worthy of protection.
He could understand her anger. Of course he could. He’d seen what the nobility could be like firsthand, and he had no doubt that Elena’s anger with them would be justified. It wasn’t his experience, but he acknowledged that she had her own.
”I’ve seen it” Callan admitted, because he couldn’t deny he’d seen the evil she spoke of. ”I’ve seen the worst sides of the nobility. But I don’t protect Tia and Carlo because of their titles.”
He paused. He didn’t know why he was bothering telling her this. She had gone through stuff he had no idea about, and his experiences meant nothing to her, surely.
”We were raised together.” Callan continued hesitantly. “To make me bond with them. Feel duty out of love, not bullshit about a family name. I’d have left years ago otherwise. My point is I know them like siblings.”
When mentioning leaving he was referring to the incident when he’d decided to run away. If he hadn’t bonded so much with Tia and Carlo he was sure he’d have struck out on his own at some point. He stayed for them.
”I’m loyal because those two are good people.” Not perfect, he’d never claim that. But good. ”I’ve seen how Tia loves her people. How she treats others.”
She treated everyone with kindness regardless of status. In fact, she gave him orders but never once made him feel lesser because of the difference in their rank. She’d always been sensitive to that and had always made Callan feel respected, just as he did her.
She would be a great queen who fought fot her people. He didn’t see evil in her, and she saw the evil Elena spoke of too and hated it as much as she did.
He’d decided long ago that his oath was for her, not for her name and not for his. The same went for Carlo. He’d lay down his life for them and he’d decided so himself. One could argue he’d been manipulated into it by his upbringing, but it didn’t make Tia and Carlo worse people because of how he’d even raised.
”So no. Not for some myth. Not the messed up system. Just them.”
Mostly, anyway. He couldn’t deny the history of his family had influenced him, especially when he was younger. It had weighed on him as much as sometimes it has inspired him. But as he got older he discovered more and more that he wanted his own choices, not just a family name to live up to. If he was going to serve the way his father and those before had, it would be because he chose it.
And it had been a winding road, where at times he’d been incredibly close to making a different choice, but in the end indeed he had chosen it. And he didn’t regret it even then.
|
|