(no subject)
Pistachio #2. Arrival
Rating : G
Timeframe : 1260
In the cold grey morning, Ski waited to meet the pair of dark cloaked figures that approached the fort. At her bidding, the guards opened the gate and ushered the two inside. Both dismounted, keeping their hoods drawn, and handed off their reins to the soldiers.
Looks of apprenhension followed as, without a word, Ski led the newcomers across the courtyard. She opened a door and the three filed into the barracks. Together they navigated the series of halls to the chambers designated for the knights’ use.
They arrived at a meeting room turned dining space. Tess stopped mid-stride in her restless pacing about the room. Farran looked up from her seat at the long table. Even Lyssa and Rune’s quiet conversation in the far corner silenced as they turned to face the new arrivals.
The two threw back their hoods, the slighter loosing a wealth of platinum curls that fell about a pale and smiling face. Her companion’s pointed features glowered at his new surroundings from beneath a thick mane of red. Tess was first to reach them, wrapping Ilya in a crushing embrace. The other three soon followed, and Ski finally voiced a greeting. Dalton’s scowl lessened as he witnessed the warmth with which his wife was received, but he still looked far from pleased.
“Where are your things?” asked Tess when they had finally given Ilya room to breathe.
Ilya shook her head. “I have the clothes on my back and my blade. I could not give reason to expect I was leaving.” She looked to Ski. “I trust you have my armor.”
“Of course,” said Ski.
“And a room?”
“You are with me,” Tess said. “Things are a bit cozy here.”
“No matter. I am glad simply to be here and make myself of use.”
Tristan did not signal his arrival with a knock. The door to the hall simply opened and the party found one more in their midst. He offered the knights a casual, “Good morn.” Then he spotted the two new faces and his eyes grew wide and settled on Dalton. “Name of the Gods! You’ve brought a… This is no place for…” Color flooded his cheeks as he made a hasty bow. “Your Highness. Then this must be-”
“Yes, yes.” Ski said, tightly. “Lady Ilya.” She offered Ilya a smile that was somewhat pained. “Our captain.”
“Please. Ilya will do. I am a soldier like any of you.”
Dalton‘s brow furrowed as he turned on her. “Like it or not, you are a Lady, and you are my wife, and I am growing tired of this charade.”
“Have we not had this argument enough times on the road?”
“We will continue to have it until you understand-”
“Until I-” Ilya’s voice rose. She took a breath to calm herself and laid a hand on her husband’s arm. “What world will there be for our children if we do not fight to protect it?”
“We can leave nothing to the children we never have.” Dalton glared at her a moment before pulling away. He threw open the door and stalked out of the room, leaving it to slam shut in his wake.
Ilya tightly shut her eyes and let out a sigh. Tess caught hold of her arm as she made for the door. “Allow him a moment.”
“But…”
“I can look for him,” Ski offered. Ilya gave a helpless shrug. Ski brushed past the confused captain and out the door.
She did not look long before she encountered the prince, sulking in the corridor. He had replaced his hood and stood, with arms folded beneath his cloak, staring out one of the narrow windows that lined the rear of the building.
“Ilya. I do not wish to-” Pale eyes met hers from the shadows of Dalton’s hood. “Oh, Masakari. I do apologize for earlier. Things have become rather tense as of late.”
“I am well aware this has not been easy on you.”
He drew a slow, deep breath. “I know this is where she is needed, and I know this is where she is happy, but it is killing me. I cannot abide this place. It reeks of death.”
“Dalton…”
“I have heard of what is happening here. This is not the minor infestation you put down four years ago.”
“You know what she is capable of.”
“I have faith in her abilities. Gods help me, it does little to assuage my fear.”
“You know that none of us wishes, any more than you, to see her come to harm.”
“I would never have agreed to this arrangement if I did not trust in that.”
“I have her back. You have my word.”
He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. “I cannot remain here,” he said, when he could meet her gaze again. “The longer I stay, the greater the chance I will not leave alone.”
“I understand,” she said, as he headed back toward the meeting room. “Dalton.” He turned his head and the hood fell away. “I appreciate your part in this, as does Ilya. Whatever you may think, she does love you.”
The corner of his mouth rose the slightest bit. “I know. Send her home safely.”
Rating : G
Timeframe : 1260
In the cold grey morning, Ski waited to meet the pair of dark cloaked figures that approached the fort. At her bidding, the guards opened the gate and ushered the two inside. Both dismounted, keeping their hoods drawn, and handed off their reins to the soldiers.
Looks of apprenhension followed as, without a word, Ski led the newcomers across the courtyard. She opened a door and the three filed into the barracks. Together they navigated the series of halls to the chambers designated for the knights’ use.
They arrived at a meeting room turned dining space. Tess stopped mid-stride in her restless pacing about the room. Farran looked up from her seat at the long table. Even Lyssa and Rune’s quiet conversation in the far corner silenced as they turned to face the new arrivals.
The two threw back their hoods, the slighter loosing a wealth of platinum curls that fell about a pale and smiling face. Her companion’s pointed features glowered at his new surroundings from beneath a thick mane of red. Tess was first to reach them, wrapping Ilya in a crushing embrace. The other three soon followed, and Ski finally voiced a greeting. Dalton’s scowl lessened as he witnessed the warmth with which his wife was received, but he still looked far from pleased.
“Where are your things?” asked Tess when they had finally given Ilya room to breathe.
Ilya shook her head. “I have the clothes on my back and my blade. I could not give reason to expect I was leaving.” She looked to Ski. “I trust you have my armor.”
“Of course,” said Ski.
“And a room?”
“You are with me,” Tess said. “Things are a bit cozy here.”
“No matter. I am glad simply to be here and make myself of use.”
Tristan did not signal his arrival with a knock. The door to the hall simply opened and the party found one more in their midst. He offered the knights a casual, “Good morn.” Then he spotted the two new faces and his eyes grew wide and settled on Dalton. “Name of the Gods! You’ve brought a… This is no place for…” Color flooded his cheeks as he made a hasty bow. “Your Highness. Then this must be-”
“Yes, yes.” Ski said, tightly. “Lady Ilya.” She offered Ilya a smile that was somewhat pained. “Our captain.”
“Please. Ilya will do. I am a soldier like any of you.”
Dalton‘s brow furrowed as he turned on her. “Like it or not, you are a Lady, and you are my wife, and I am growing tired of this charade.”
“Have we not had this argument enough times on the road?”
“We will continue to have it until you understand-”
“Until I-” Ilya’s voice rose. She took a breath to calm herself and laid a hand on her husband’s arm. “What world will there be for our children if we do not fight to protect it?”
“We can leave nothing to the children we never have.” Dalton glared at her a moment before pulling away. He threw open the door and stalked out of the room, leaving it to slam shut in his wake.
Ilya tightly shut her eyes and let out a sigh. Tess caught hold of her arm as she made for the door. “Allow him a moment.”
“But…”
“I can look for him,” Ski offered. Ilya gave a helpless shrug. Ski brushed past the confused captain and out the door.
She did not look long before she encountered the prince, sulking in the corridor. He had replaced his hood and stood, with arms folded beneath his cloak, staring out one of the narrow windows that lined the rear of the building.
“Ilya. I do not wish to-” Pale eyes met hers from the shadows of Dalton’s hood. “Oh, Masakari. I do apologize for earlier. Things have become rather tense as of late.”
“I am well aware this has not been easy on you.”
He drew a slow, deep breath. “I know this is where she is needed, and I know this is where she is happy, but it is killing me. I cannot abide this place. It reeks of death.”
“Dalton…”
“I have heard of what is happening here. This is not the minor infestation you put down four years ago.”
“You know what she is capable of.”
“I have faith in her abilities. Gods help me, it does little to assuage my fear.”
“You know that none of us wishes, any more than you, to see her come to harm.”
“I would never have agreed to this arrangement if I did not trust in that.”
“I have her back. You have my word.”
He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. “I cannot remain here,” he said, when he could meet her gaze again. “The longer I stay, the greater the chance I will not leave alone.”
“I understand,” she said, as he headed back toward the meeting room. “Dalton.” He turned his head and the hood fell away. “I appreciate your part in this, as does Ilya. Whatever you may think, she does love you.”
The corner of his mouth rose the slightest bit. “I know. Send her home safely.”