RP with regina_del_sole
In which Lucretia visits Queen Arshtat to see where exactly Her Majesty's head is at.
Lucretia, after taking a moment to ask one of the Knights where the room was, stood outside of Queen Arshtat's room and took a deep breath as she raised her hand to knock on the door. It wasn't as if she was anxious about her reason for coming here, it was more a feeling of what it is she would learn once she went inside. Exhaling, she knocked gently 4 times on the door.
Arshtat had found herself more tired than usual these past days, but then that was to be expected from the energy it took to maintain her gift to Budehuc. The warmth was much preferred and she enjoyed looking out at her handiwork. She was doing just that, when the knock came at her door. “You may enter,” she said calmly, though surprised by the interruption, they had been few lately.
Lucretia opened the door and walked in, smiling. It had been a very long time since she had seen the Queen, and to be honest, she looked as if she hadn't aged a day. "Your Majesty, I am honored to once again be in your presence." She bowed politely.
Though she had seen Lucretia before the astonishment was not entirely dissipated. “Lucretia,” Arhstat greeted, moving from the window to give the other her full attention. “It has been quite some time.”
Folding her fan, Lucretia nodded. "Indeed. So tell me...how have you been?" Lucretia was never one for small talk and always liked getting straight to the point, however this was going to take a lot of tact on her part to get to the heart of what was going on.
In the past Arshtat paid more attention to each of Luretia’s words and moves, not because she distrusted her, but because she knew everything had a purpose. With the overconfidence provided by the sun rune she was more apt to ignore things. “Considering the circumstances which brought me here, quite well,” she replied with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
Lucretia paid careful attention to the Queen's words and nodded. "I apologize for not asking before, but how did you find yourself here at the castle?"
Arshtat arched a brow questioningly, not sure what the other did or did not know. “How aware of events were you in the prison?” she asked instead of answering her.
It always raised flags for Lucretia when someone answered a question with another question, but to avoid alienating the Queen, she went along with it. "I managed to keep up with how things were going while I was there thanks to the kindness of my guards. I am eternally grateful to the Prince for rescuing me, and I am only too happy to have assisted him in restoring Falena."
“Rescuing you?” Arshtat repeated, sounding more normal as she thought about her son. “So then you are from a point after the Godwin Coup.” The momentary kindness in her voice vanished as she spoke of that, and she nearly spat out her last words. “Needless to say I arrived shortly after their takeover.”
Oh, this was something she hadn't expected at all, and it took all of her willpower to not show surprise on her face. This didn't sound right at all to her, and from the tone in her voice now wasn't a good time to debate the finer points of it. She thought it best to try to carefully steer the conversation back towards her original intentions. "I travelled extensively after the war, and I came here to Budehuc, only to find myself unexpectedly teleported to the Island Nations. I remained there for a year, and I've just now come back."
“I see,” Arshtat said, taking in the information, but voice unreadable as to the effect it had. “I have heard about the war from those here. You helped F..the prince?”
"I was his strategist. Although, he is of such talent that I didn't have to give him very much advice at all." Lucretia smiled, hoping that the pleasant news about her son would ease the Queen's anxieties.
Arshtat smiled, as she always did when he heard such news about her son. At first she was surprised, but now she knew she should not be. “Of course,” she said, voice tainted with a darker tone. “He is my son after all. The sun would look down on him favorably.”
"Have you seen him since your return here?" Lucretia was quietly pleased that this line of conversation was going well.
“No I have not,” Arshtat replied, holding herself high. “Lymsleia was here, I have not seen her in some time. Her young bodyguard had better be keeping close watch on her.”
"I'm sure that he is," Lucretia responded with a smile. "Although, given the strength of the women in your family, she may be the one that is his bodyguard, and not the other way around."
“Hmm, an interesting point,” Arshtat said, finding it easy to completely believe her with the overconfidence flowing through her veins. “However, you have never been one for small talk. Have you acquired the skill over the years, or is there another purpose to your visit?”
Lucretia smiled, partially to ease Arshtat's mind, partially because she knew that this was now-or-never time. "A little of both, honestly. I've realized the older I get, the more that conversation becomes nece
Lucretia smiled, partially to ease Arshtat's mind, partially because she knew that this was now-or-never time. "A little of both, honestly. The older I get, the more I realize that conversation in all its forms is a lost art. The other reason is to find out what it is that troubles you so. In the past, I have been a party in helping to solve any troubles you may have, and I wanted to inquire if you were in need of my services now."
“Troubles?” Arshtat asked, eyebrow raised in question. “If you are speaking of the misunderstandings between myself and the uneducated people here, I have already rectified it.” Smiles and looks out the window again at her sun.
Lucretia peered at the second sun as well, and nodded. "What sorts of...'misunderstandings'?" Lucretia didn't think she'd be of much help if she didn't have all of the facts from both sides of the story.
Arshtat glanced over suspicious that she was being doubted; something that would not be tolerated. “There were some who tested the power of the sun and were left with the consequences,” she said, awaiting Lucretia’s response to know if it was actually doubt or curiosity.
"I see." Lucretia showed no emotion at her answer. "I can certainly understand where you would be upset - there are many here that do not know you or are aware of your power. But I'm sure that all things considered, no one would be foolish enough to test your power now after all that has happened, would they?"
“Precisely,” Arshtat replied, calming at that response. “Now that they know the true power and benevolence of the sun there will be no more doubt.”
"Not to question your judgment, Your Majesty, but I was wondering how long it would be that the sun would still shine in its benevolence? I understand the need for those to be punished to suffer for their crimes. However, those that have not offended you and do not wish to I'm sure would like to plan accordingly." Lucretia hoped that the Queen would somehow have an answer for this, or at least have some sort of mercy left for those innocent of any wrongdoing.
Arshtat turned on Lucretia in an instant, clearly offended by her assumptions. “This is not about crimes! It is a gift!” she declared, eyes flashing. “One does not put a time limit on a gift. Are you suggesting my choice might have been wrong?”
Lucretia was unfazed by the Queen's display of anger. "No. I am not. I was only concerned about those that have not offended you or harmed you in any way. I am sure that they will manage just fine." She didn't like holding back from the Queen, but she figured that discretion was the better part of valor and she didn't want to make things worse for the castle's residents.
“Hmm, I see,” Arshtat said, voice clearly sounding as though she did not entirely accept Lucretia’s explanation. “Was there anything else you wished to discuss?”
"Not at the moment, Your Majesty. Although, I do leave open the offer of my assistance, should you need it." Lucretia bowed politely.
“Yes,” Arshtat said evenly. “If there is anything you will be informed.”
Lucretia nodded, and slowly made her way out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her. Outside of the door sat her cat, Frasier. He leaped up into her arm and she unfolded her fan and fluttered it thoughtfully as she made her way down the hallway and away from the room.
Lucretia, after taking a moment to ask one of the Knights where the room was, stood outside of Queen Arshtat's room and took a deep breath as she raised her hand to knock on the door. It wasn't as if she was anxious about her reason for coming here, it was more a feeling of what it is she would learn once she went inside. Exhaling, she knocked gently 4 times on the door.
Arshtat had found herself more tired than usual these past days, but then that was to be expected from the energy it took to maintain her gift to Budehuc. The warmth was much preferred and she enjoyed looking out at her handiwork. She was doing just that, when the knock came at her door. “You may enter,” she said calmly, though surprised by the interruption, they had been few lately.
Lucretia opened the door and walked in, smiling. It had been a very long time since she had seen the Queen, and to be honest, she looked as if she hadn't aged a day. "Your Majesty, I am honored to once again be in your presence." She bowed politely.
Though she had seen Lucretia before the astonishment was not entirely dissipated. “Lucretia,” Arhstat greeted, moving from the window to give the other her full attention. “It has been quite some time.”
Folding her fan, Lucretia nodded. "Indeed. So tell me...how have you been?" Lucretia was never one for small talk and always liked getting straight to the point, however this was going to take a lot of tact on her part to get to the heart of what was going on.
In the past Arshtat paid more attention to each of Luretia’s words and moves, not because she distrusted her, but because she knew everything had a purpose. With the overconfidence provided by the sun rune she was more apt to ignore things. “Considering the circumstances which brought me here, quite well,” she replied with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
Lucretia paid careful attention to the Queen's words and nodded. "I apologize for not asking before, but how did you find yourself here at the castle?"
Arshtat arched a brow questioningly, not sure what the other did or did not know. “How aware of events were you in the prison?” she asked instead of answering her.
It always raised flags for Lucretia when someone answered a question with another question, but to avoid alienating the Queen, she went along with it. "I managed to keep up with how things were going while I was there thanks to the kindness of my guards. I am eternally grateful to the Prince for rescuing me, and I am only too happy to have assisted him in restoring Falena."
“Rescuing you?” Arshtat repeated, sounding more normal as she thought about her son. “So then you are from a point after the Godwin Coup.” The momentary kindness in her voice vanished as she spoke of that, and she nearly spat out her last words. “Needless to say I arrived shortly after their takeover.”
Oh, this was something she hadn't expected at all, and it took all of her willpower to not show surprise on her face. This didn't sound right at all to her, and from the tone in her voice now wasn't a good time to debate the finer points of it. She thought it best to try to carefully steer the conversation back towards her original intentions. "I travelled extensively after the war, and I came here to Budehuc, only to find myself unexpectedly teleported to the Island Nations. I remained there for a year, and I've just now come back."
“I see,” Arshtat said, taking in the information, but voice unreadable as to the effect it had. “I have heard about the war from those here. You helped F..the prince?”
"I was his strategist. Although, he is of such talent that I didn't have to give him very much advice at all." Lucretia smiled, hoping that the pleasant news about her son would ease the Queen's anxieties.
Arshtat smiled, as she always did when he heard such news about her son. At first she was surprised, but now she knew she should not be. “Of course,” she said, voice tainted with a darker tone. “He is my son after all. The sun would look down on him favorably.”
"Have you seen him since your return here?" Lucretia was quietly pleased that this line of conversation was going well.
“No I have not,” Arshtat replied, holding herself high. “Lymsleia was here, I have not seen her in some time. Her young bodyguard had better be keeping close watch on her.”
"I'm sure that he is," Lucretia responded with a smile. "Although, given the strength of the women in your family, she may be the one that is his bodyguard, and not the other way around."
“Hmm, an interesting point,” Arshtat said, finding it easy to completely believe her with the overconfidence flowing through her veins. “However, you have never been one for small talk. Have you acquired the skill over the years, or is there another purpose to your visit?”
Lucretia smiled, partially to ease Arshtat's mind, partially because she knew that this was now-or-never time. "A little of both, honestly. I've realized the older I get, the more that conversation becomes nece
Lucretia smiled, partially to ease Arshtat's mind, partially because she knew that this was now-or-never time. "A little of both, honestly. The older I get, the more I realize that conversation in all its forms is a lost art. The other reason is to find out what it is that troubles you so. In the past, I have been a party in helping to solve any troubles you may have, and I wanted to inquire if you were in need of my services now."
“Troubles?” Arshtat asked, eyebrow raised in question. “If you are speaking of the misunderstandings between myself and the uneducated people here, I have already rectified it.” Smiles and looks out the window again at her sun.
Lucretia peered at the second sun as well, and nodded. "What sorts of...'misunderstandings'?" Lucretia didn't think she'd be of much help if she didn't have all of the facts from both sides of the story.
Arshtat glanced over suspicious that she was being doubted; something that would not be tolerated. “There were some who tested the power of the sun and were left with the consequences,” she said, awaiting Lucretia’s response to know if it was actually doubt or curiosity.
"I see." Lucretia showed no emotion at her answer. "I can certainly understand where you would be upset - there are many here that do not know you or are aware of your power. But I'm sure that all things considered, no one would be foolish enough to test your power now after all that has happened, would they?"
“Precisely,” Arshtat replied, calming at that response. “Now that they know the true power and benevolence of the sun there will be no more doubt.”
"Not to question your judgment, Your Majesty, but I was wondering how long it would be that the sun would still shine in its benevolence? I understand the need for those to be punished to suffer for their crimes. However, those that have not offended you and do not wish to I'm sure would like to plan accordingly." Lucretia hoped that the Queen would somehow have an answer for this, or at least have some sort of mercy left for those innocent of any wrongdoing.
Arshtat turned on Lucretia in an instant, clearly offended by her assumptions. “This is not about crimes! It is a gift!” she declared, eyes flashing. “One does not put a time limit on a gift. Are you suggesting my choice might have been wrong?”
Lucretia was unfazed by the Queen's display of anger. "No. I am not. I was only concerned about those that have not offended you or harmed you in any way. I am sure that they will manage just fine." She didn't like holding back from the Queen, but she figured that discretion was the better part of valor and she didn't want to make things worse for the castle's residents.
“Hmm, I see,” Arshtat said, voice clearly sounding as though she did not entirely accept Lucretia’s explanation. “Was there anything else you wished to discuss?”
"Not at the moment, Your Majesty. Although, I do leave open the offer of my assistance, should you need it." Lucretia bowed politely.
“Yes,” Arshtat said evenly. “If there is anything you will be informed.”
Lucretia nodded, and slowly made her way out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her. Outside of the door sat her cat, Frasier. He leaped up into her arm and she unfolded her fan and fluttered it thoughtfully as she made her way down the hallway and away from the room.