Hidden Majesty, 2/? P.4 - Of Intrigue, P.2
Hidden Majesty
CH.2, P.4 (Of Intrigue, P.2)
*still a flashback chapter*
Of Intrigue, P.2
A small hiccup of sorts escaped past her partially numb lips. It was followed by a snicker, which caused her to lose focus on keeping her steps steady. Vala listed towards the wall on her right, giggling as she went.
Placing a hand on the wall, she paused for a moment to collect herself. She could do this - simply walk a straight path back to her bedchambers by herself. She'd made it all the way to the study without any assistance, and she was pretty positive it'd been a straight shot then. It was just because it was late and this time she didn't have a lantern to help guide her down the rain-dimmed moonlit corridor.
That was a perfectly logical reason, wasn't it?
Yes, of course it was. It had to be because it was the only reasoning she was going to allow herself to accept - it was late, and she was tired.
It most certainly wasn't because she was drunk. Nope, that wasn't the case at all. She was a Queen. A very noble, very dutiful Queen. At least that’s what she'd told Daniel during the several hours they'd spent in the study. She'd said all that, and he'd agreed with her completely as she'd sloppily poured more of the lovely mystery drink into her cup.
She was Queen, and Queens didn't get drunk.
Looking up, Vala tried to focus on the hall before her. The image swam like the rain that continued to run down the windowpanes. She giggled again.
Then swallowed it. No, she was just tired and the hall was dark. That was why it danced before her fuzzily. It wasn't due to drunkenness.
She wasn't drunk.
"Nogt dru'k." Vala repeated out loud, ignoring the slurring. She stood up straighter, pulling in a deep breath and slowly made her way back towards the middle of the hallway. She stood in that spot for a moment, feeling herself swaying and fighting hard to ignore it and the laughter bubbling up inside.
Vala started to move forward again. A hand on her stomach, she took her steps slowly. As if on its own accord her other hand came out, almost like it was ready to connect with the wall on her right again. A dopey smile came to her lips in reward to her progress.
Of course the more she thought about how well she was doing, the worse her steps actually became. Vala was so wrapped up in her mistaken pride that she lost her balance and went stumbling to her right. She tried to fix it, but overcompensated, and ended up weaving too far left.
By this point, she was too distracted by her giggling, and went listing back to the right quickly in a half-assed attempt to fix it again. The hand she had out for balance fell, and the hand on her stomach came up pressed under her nose in her laughter. Weaving around dangerously, Vala soon found herself back against the wall she'd been before.
Except this time, she was facing the opposite direction. All it did was fuel her hysterics, and she burst out in laughter. She leaned heavily into the wall. Even then, she managed to overcompensate and ended up sliding down several inches. She just laughed harder.
"'kay, m'ybe 'm dru'k." Vala admitted as she giggled. Her mind drifted back up the hall to the study, where she'd parted ways with Daniel. He'd smiled at her as she'd stubbornly made her way down the hall, and she'd smiled back happily as she weaved and giggled away from him. "Damn him."
Still, she smiled even as she thought she should hate him. "Dan'el." She murmured the name to herself appreciatively. Pushing off the wall, Vala drunkenly turned herself back in the right direction. She weaved her way towards her chambers, her mind now caught up in her evening with him.
-----
Simon looked up at the sound of heavy, unsteady footsteps drifted his direction. His hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword, prepared for whatever may be approaching. It was true the Queen wasn't in her chambers, but her ladies had arrived not long ago and he would need to protect them as well as he would his Majesty.
His fingers tensed as the steps got closer. His hardened look fell as not some strange attacker came around the bend, but the Queen.
"Majesty?" Simon questioned, releasing his death grip on his weapon.
She looked up at him, smiling cheerily. She stopped, and he immediately noticed how she swayed in place.
"Well, hel'o Sir Sim-" A hiccup cut off her greeting, and caused her to fall into a fit of giggles. She tilted backwards, taking a few steps to catch her balance.
Simon immediately moved to her side to assist her. "Majesty, are you alright?" He placed a hand on her shoulder, and brought the other around to her hip to keep her balanced. He could smell the alcohol on her.
Her grey eyes came up to look at him and he noticed how unfocused they were. "'M v'ry alrike, knightsir." She leaned up and whispered close to his lips, quite loudly. "I th'k I could use some...assissi...assississ...help to m' bed." Her smile became dreamy. "Dan'el could do it."
Easing her forward, Simon nodded. "Yes, Majesty." His curiosity piqued at her last comment, but he didn't dwell on it. He pushed open her chamber doors, and before he could stop her, Vala pushed out of his hold and stumbled into the room.
"Whoa!" She gasped at the warmth and business of the room. She turned to look at Simon, stumbling yet again. "Wh'red they come from?" Her arm gestured around the room, to the handful of ladies getting it prepared for her.
Simon stepped a little farther into the room. "You ordered them to come prepare your chambers, Majesty." He looked at the closest lady, who was frowning at how her Queen was acting. "At least, that is what they told me when they came in here an hour ago."
Vala's face dawned with understanding. "Right!" She turned quickly back to the room. "Well, though I th'k s'uness'ry now..." She picked up her skirts in her hands and sashayed over to the lady unfolding her nightdress. "Les nogt put th'er harword to misuse."
------
Simon stalked down the hall, not bothering to knock on the door to the study. He just barreled on in, making a beeline for the man sprawled in the chair by the fire.
As he came to stand by Daniel, Simon shook his head. He'd known the man for a long time, and it had become quite easy to tell when Daniel had been drinking heavily. Seeing him, tilting his chair back with his feet propped up on the table and his eyes closed, Simon knew. The goblet dangling from his lax fingers was a good sign as well.
It just fueled his anger. He reached out and whacked Daniel hard on the leg. Under normal circumstances, it was an action that would get him court martialed and exiled. But right now, Simon wasn't addressing his commander. He was scolding his friend.
"Hey!" Daniel barked, slamming his chair back down and turning a glare on the young man. "What the hell was that for?!"
"You got her drunk?!" Simon shouted back. "The wife of your commander, your Queen, and you get her drunk? What the hell is wrong with you, Daniel?!"
Daniel snorted. "She seemed to enjoy it." He brought his cup to his lips.
Snatching it out of Daniel's grasp, Simon ignored the 'fuck, man!' that followed as he slammed the goblet on the table. Its contents splashed over the side. He turned a heated stare to match the one Daniel was giving him.
"Stop with the sarcasm." Simon said in annoyance. "You get the Queen, who is your charge, drunk. You make her vulnerable to anything because she's willing to do anything. This could get back to the King, and all of our asses would be dead, and yet here you are, continuing to get fucked up on the job!"
Daniel shot from his seat, and Simon took a step back warily. "You forget, Simon," Daniel drew his name out. "Who's pulled your ass out of the fire after countless drunken bar brawls over two-cent harlots."
"So you might want to watch out who you're putting blame on." He snatched up his cup and moved over to the cabinet where all the liquor was kept. Daniel placed the goblet down and turned back to Simon. "It doesn't matter if I got her wasted,"
Simon scowled at the taboo gypsy word.
"Cause the King is never going to find out about it."
The younger man, though not by much, shook his head. "You don't know that." He watched Daniel make his way back over to him, a slight swagger to his walk the only sign he'd been drinking. "Aren't you the one who taught me the walls are always listening?"
Daniel nodded, but smiled in the way that drove everyone crazy - the one that said he could read you like all those books he loved. "That's true, but when you control the walls, secrets don't get heard."
"So that's what this was?" Simon asked, again getting agitated. "A secret something to get closer to the Queen?"
Something flashed across Daniel's face for just a second, but he wiped the look away quickly. "I didn't say that." He picked up his long forgotten book from the table and came to stand before Simon again. "It was just two people sharing in conversation and drink, in an attempt to stave off a boredom of the worst kind."
Despite Daniel's attempt to hide it, Simon could see that something else in Daniel barely-clouded blue eyes.
"You find her attractive."
Daniel let out a short, sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, right." He turned on his heels and made for the door. "Are we sure you're not the one who's been drinking tonight?"
Simon's voice reached him as he reached the doorway. "This is a dangerous line you're walking, Daniel." Daniel turned to gaze at his friend, his second in command. "You don't want to get caught up in this game."
He smiled reassuringly. "Simon, I was just trying to please my King by keeping his wife happy. That's all this was." Daniel took his leave of the study then, trying and failing to ignore the words that had been playing in his head since just before she had left him that evening.
'You're right.' She had whispered conspiratorially to him. 'I do find you interesting.'
Continued in Of Friends, P.1
Comments are definitely appreciated!!
CH.2, P.4 (Of Intrigue, P.2)
*still a flashback chapter*
Of Intrigue, P.2
A small hiccup of sorts escaped past her partially numb lips. It was followed by a snicker, which caused her to lose focus on keeping her steps steady. Vala listed towards the wall on her right, giggling as she went.
Placing a hand on the wall, she paused for a moment to collect herself. She could do this - simply walk a straight path back to her bedchambers by herself. She'd made it all the way to the study without any assistance, and she was pretty positive it'd been a straight shot then. It was just because it was late and this time she didn't have a lantern to help guide her down the rain-dimmed moonlit corridor.
That was a perfectly logical reason, wasn't it?
Yes, of course it was. It had to be because it was the only reasoning she was going to allow herself to accept - it was late, and she was tired.
It most certainly wasn't because she was drunk. Nope, that wasn't the case at all. She was a Queen. A very noble, very dutiful Queen. At least that’s what she'd told Daniel during the several hours they'd spent in the study. She'd said all that, and he'd agreed with her completely as she'd sloppily poured more of the lovely mystery drink into her cup.
She was Queen, and Queens didn't get drunk.
Looking up, Vala tried to focus on the hall before her. The image swam like the rain that continued to run down the windowpanes. She giggled again.
Then swallowed it. No, she was just tired and the hall was dark. That was why it danced before her fuzzily. It wasn't due to drunkenness.
She wasn't drunk.
"Nogt dru'k." Vala repeated out loud, ignoring the slurring. She stood up straighter, pulling in a deep breath and slowly made her way back towards the middle of the hallway. She stood in that spot for a moment, feeling herself swaying and fighting hard to ignore it and the laughter bubbling up inside.
Vala started to move forward again. A hand on her stomach, she took her steps slowly. As if on its own accord her other hand came out, almost like it was ready to connect with the wall on her right again. A dopey smile came to her lips in reward to her progress.
Of course the more she thought about how well she was doing, the worse her steps actually became. Vala was so wrapped up in her mistaken pride that she lost her balance and went stumbling to her right. She tried to fix it, but overcompensated, and ended up weaving too far left.
By this point, she was too distracted by her giggling, and went listing back to the right quickly in a half-assed attempt to fix it again. The hand she had out for balance fell, and the hand on her stomach came up pressed under her nose in her laughter. Weaving around dangerously, Vala soon found herself back against the wall she'd been before.
Except this time, she was facing the opposite direction. All it did was fuel her hysterics, and she burst out in laughter. She leaned heavily into the wall. Even then, she managed to overcompensate and ended up sliding down several inches. She just laughed harder.
"'kay, m'ybe 'm dru'k." Vala admitted as she giggled. Her mind drifted back up the hall to the study, where she'd parted ways with Daniel. He'd smiled at her as she'd stubbornly made her way down the hall, and she'd smiled back happily as she weaved and giggled away from him. "Damn him."
Still, she smiled even as she thought she should hate him. "Dan'el." She murmured the name to herself appreciatively. Pushing off the wall, Vala drunkenly turned herself back in the right direction. She weaved her way towards her chambers, her mind now caught up in her evening with him.
-----
Simon looked up at the sound of heavy, unsteady footsteps drifted his direction. His hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword, prepared for whatever may be approaching. It was true the Queen wasn't in her chambers, but her ladies had arrived not long ago and he would need to protect them as well as he would his Majesty.
His fingers tensed as the steps got closer. His hardened look fell as not some strange attacker came around the bend, but the Queen.
"Majesty?" Simon questioned, releasing his death grip on his weapon.
She looked up at him, smiling cheerily. She stopped, and he immediately noticed how she swayed in place.
"Well, hel'o Sir Sim-" A hiccup cut off her greeting, and caused her to fall into a fit of giggles. She tilted backwards, taking a few steps to catch her balance.
Simon immediately moved to her side to assist her. "Majesty, are you alright?" He placed a hand on her shoulder, and brought the other around to her hip to keep her balanced. He could smell the alcohol on her.
Her grey eyes came up to look at him and he noticed how unfocused they were. "'M v'ry alrike, knightsir." She leaned up and whispered close to his lips, quite loudly. "I th'k I could use some...assissi...assississ...help to m' bed." Her smile became dreamy. "Dan'el could do it."
Easing her forward, Simon nodded. "Yes, Majesty." His curiosity piqued at her last comment, but he didn't dwell on it. He pushed open her chamber doors, and before he could stop her, Vala pushed out of his hold and stumbled into the room.
"Whoa!" She gasped at the warmth and business of the room. She turned to look at Simon, stumbling yet again. "Wh'red they come from?" Her arm gestured around the room, to the handful of ladies getting it prepared for her.
Simon stepped a little farther into the room. "You ordered them to come prepare your chambers, Majesty." He looked at the closest lady, who was frowning at how her Queen was acting. "At least, that is what they told me when they came in here an hour ago."
Vala's face dawned with understanding. "Right!" She turned quickly back to the room. "Well, though I th'k s'uness'ry now..." She picked up her skirts in her hands and sashayed over to the lady unfolding her nightdress. "Les nogt put th'er harword to misuse."
------
Simon stalked down the hall, not bothering to knock on the door to the study. He just barreled on in, making a beeline for the man sprawled in the chair by the fire.
As he came to stand by Daniel, Simon shook his head. He'd known the man for a long time, and it had become quite easy to tell when Daniel had been drinking heavily. Seeing him, tilting his chair back with his feet propped up on the table and his eyes closed, Simon knew. The goblet dangling from his lax fingers was a good sign as well.
It just fueled his anger. He reached out and whacked Daniel hard on the leg. Under normal circumstances, it was an action that would get him court martialed and exiled. But right now, Simon wasn't addressing his commander. He was scolding his friend.
"Hey!" Daniel barked, slamming his chair back down and turning a glare on the young man. "What the hell was that for?!"
"You got her drunk?!" Simon shouted back. "The wife of your commander, your Queen, and you get her drunk? What the hell is wrong with you, Daniel?!"
Daniel snorted. "She seemed to enjoy it." He brought his cup to his lips.
Snatching it out of Daniel's grasp, Simon ignored the 'fuck, man!' that followed as he slammed the goblet on the table. Its contents splashed over the side. He turned a heated stare to match the one Daniel was giving him.
"Stop with the sarcasm." Simon said in annoyance. "You get the Queen, who is your charge, drunk. You make her vulnerable to anything because she's willing to do anything. This could get back to the King, and all of our asses would be dead, and yet here you are, continuing to get fucked up on the job!"
Daniel shot from his seat, and Simon took a step back warily. "You forget, Simon," Daniel drew his name out. "Who's pulled your ass out of the fire after countless drunken bar brawls over two-cent harlots."
"So you might want to watch out who you're putting blame on." He snatched up his cup and moved over to the cabinet where all the liquor was kept. Daniel placed the goblet down and turned back to Simon. "It doesn't matter if I got her wasted,"
Simon scowled at the taboo gypsy word.
"Cause the King is never going to find out about it."
The younger man, though not by much, shook his head. "You don't know that." He watched Daniel make his way back over to him, a slight swagger to his walk the only sign he'd been drinking. "Aren't you the one who taught me the walls are always listening?"
Daniel nodded, but smiled in the way that drove everyone crazy - the one that said he could read you like all those books he loved. "That's true, but when you control the walls, secrets don't get heard."
"So that's what this was?" Simon asked, again getting agitated. "A secret something to get closer to the Queen?"
Something flashed across Daniel's face for just a second, but he wiped the look away quickly. "I didn't say that." He picked up his long forgotten book from the table and came to stand before Simon again. "It was just two people sharing in conversation and drink, in an attempt to stave off a boredom of the worst kind."
Despite Daniel's attempt to hide it, Simon could see that something else in Daniel barely-clouded blue eyes.
"You find her attractive."
Daniel let out a short, sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, right." He turned on his heels and made for the door. "Are we sure you're not the one who's been drinking tonight?"
Simon's voice reached him as he reached the doorway. "This is a dangerous line you're walking, Daniel." Daniel turned to gaze at his friend, his second in command. "You don't want to get caught up in this game."
He smiled reassuringly. "Simon, I was just trying to please my King by keeping his wife happy. That's all this was." Daniel took his leave of the study then, trying and failing to ignore the words that had been playing in his head since just before she had left him that evening.
'You're right.' She had whispered conspiratorially to him. 'I do find you interesting.'
Continued in Of Friends, P.1
Comments are definitely appreciated!!