fic: "Assembly, Care, & Feeding of a Queen's Court" by Tielan - Chapter 11
TITLE: Assembly, Care, & Feeding of a Queen's Court - Part 11: Dying Of Curiosity
SUMMARY: Darcy wondered if she'd been a little bit too emphatic, but the truth was that she was curious.
CHARACTERS: Darcy, Phil, Clint, Jane, Maria, Thor, Steve
DETAILS: Master Post
Chapter 11: Dying Of Curiosity
Darcy was more than a little relieved that she was partnered with Prince Coulson for the evening.
Not that there was anything wrong with Lord Barton - actually, Darcy thought he was the better looking of the two - but he did tend to look just a little bit stern, and everyone knew he was devoted to Lady Romanoff, who was a Black Widow and about a hundred years old, even if she did only look like she was in her mid-twenties.
But when Thor and Jane had come past the Sanctuary with the carriage to pick her up for dinner, she'd had this sudden, horrible thought that Maria would bring an escort and she'd be left playing fifth wheel.
Not exactly her idea of a fun night.
However, when they'd arrived at the restaurant, she'd been seated next to Prince Coulson, who'd been attentive and courteous, and very much the perfect escort.
It was enough to make a witch wish she was a Queen.
"You look like you haven't been sleeping well," she said to Maria after the meal and the wine were ordered, and the menus taken away. Lord Barton was telling Thor and Jane about the work being completed on the residence. "Too many parties at Stark Manor?"
"Too many meetings at Stark Manor," Maria replied, sipping at her wine. "Rhodey - Lord Rhodes - finally marshalled the border guards sufficiently to get the leaders all in one place, and the discussion was mostly about border defences, and opening communications with the border Territories."
"I guess you've already got a connection with Asgard Territory," Darcy shot a look across the table at Thor where he was grinning at something Jane was saying. Jane had gotten so lucky when she'd found him out in a field. It was enough to make a Priestess wish she'd been out stargazing and fallen over a sexy, dark-Jewelled Warlord Prince in the night. "Have you decided on your Blood triangle yet?"
There was plenty of speculation about the court that would form around Maria - and plenty of jostling among Blood males seeking the opportunity to serve in her First Circle - or possibly even in her bed.
Every Queen's court held a trio of males - the Blood triangle - the most trusted, intimate members of her court. The Steward of the court managed the financial and social affairs of the Queen, the Master of the Guard looked after matters of her security and safety, and the Consort saw to the emotional and physical well-being of the woman.
Steward and Master of the Guard were usually filled by older males, trusted and reliable, but the position of Consort could be filled by any male to whom the Queen offered the Consort's Ring.
Darcy had heard more than a few whispers about the young Blood males trying to bring themselves to the notice of the Queen. Later tonight, at the theatre, there'd be plenty of swaggering young bucks strutting around trying to get Maria to admire their cocks.
The question nobody could answer was whether the Queen would duly admire - or even notice.
Of course, Maria hadn't yet had her Virgin Night, so a Consort was a moot point until she'd been safely seen through her first sexual experience and come through it with her inner web - the ability to do Craft and wear Jewels - intact.
And that was another matter of speculation - who was going to take the Queen through her Virgin Night? Of course, not something one could ask at the dinner table...
"It's under discussion," Maria said with a sideways look at Prince Coulson, referring to the choice of her Blood triangle.
"Is that what we're calling it?"
Maria ignored him and looked to Darcy. "And when we weren't meeting with the border guards, there were social events all over the place, none of which seemed able to go on without me."
"Well, you are the Queen, you know..."
"It's not something I'm going to forget when everyone keeps reminding me," she said, looking pointedly at Coulson, who just smiled. It seemed the argument was an old one, long since lost its sting.
"What news from the borders?" Thor asked, his deep voice carrying over the table. "No sign of any more Hydra?"
Maria, Coulson, and Barton exchanged glances. "No," Barton said. "It looks like the attack last year was the last of it."
"And the Red Skull?" Jane asked, curiously. "Wasn't there a Blood male behind it all?"
Both Maria and Barton looked to Coulson. The Prince cleared his throat, his Rose Jewel gleaming in the necklet he wore beneath the open throat of his shirt. "A group of males was sent to hunt down the Red Skull, his location mostly based on rumour. Since then..." He glanced at Maria, "After the last Hydra attack, we found someone with a visual identification of the Red Skull and passed it on to the leader of the hunting party."
"I heard he used to be in Lady Peggy's court - her Consort?"
"Yes," Coulson answered, smiling. "Prince Rogers. He's a legend in many circles-"
"Or just Coulson's," Barton said in mock-undertones.
"-an unparalleled warrior, and a man of honour. It's said he swore on Lady Peggy's grave to avenge her death if it took him the rest of his life."
Darcy sighed a little, not entirely immune to the thought of a male who'd swear to avenge her or die trying. "He's one of the long-lived races, isn't he? And still alive?"
"So far as we know."
"It's been months since we've heard from any of them, though." Barton pointed out, his voice practical. "They might all be whispers in the darkness. Given that the Red Skull started all this over twenty years ago and we only got a hint that he even existed this last year..."
"Rogers wore the Grey," Coulson said. "Even if he died, if he had the slightest bit of strength, he'd become demon-dead and continue the pursuit. That's the kind of man he is."
"You sound as though you knew him," Thor noted.
"I met him once when Lady Peggy's court passed through my village. I was a child and he was...memorable." There was a hint of sheepishness in Prince Coulson's voice.
"Not exactly his best friend," Lord Barton drawled.
"No more than Prince Howlett is yours, Clint," Maria remarked with sideways look, and it was Barton's turn to look sheepish.
Thor interrupted before the teasing could continue. "What do you think of this situation, Lady? It pertains to your safety, after all."
Darcy watched as Maria turned the stem of her wine glass around between her fingers. "The Hydra are gone. We've had no sighting of them since...since last Winsol. The Red Skull..." She stared at the wine, liquid red in the candlelight of the dinner table. "The Red Skull is being dealt with. I was given that assurance."
Curiosity shone on both Jane and Thor's faces, but they were too polite to ask. Darcy wasn't, but waiters began hovering with their food, and when they'd laid the plates down, the maitre'd wished to check that everything was to their satisfaction. After that, there was food and conversation that had nothing to do with mysterious promises given to Queens, much to Darcy's dismay.
But Darcy was nothing if not curious and persistent. That was one of the reasons she and Jane were friends. Of course, Jane's curiosity was about Craft and the things the Blood could do with spells and Jewelled power, and Darcy's curiosity was about people and the things that went on in their lives, but it was still curiosity.
The group ate dinner, discussed Prince Stark's engagement to Miss Potts, the peculiar nature of Prince Banner's caste, and the play that they were going to see tonight. They decided dessert would wait for after the play, and the ladies went to freshen up in the powder room before they headed off to the theatre.
"So," Darcy said as Maria checked her reflection and decided that all she needed to do was tuck a wisp of hair behind her ear, "Have you decided who's going to be taking care of your Virgin Night?"
"Darcy!"
Darcy rolled her eyes at Jane, who was blushing and looking rather too horrified. "What? It's not like everyone isn't speculating about it. And if a Priestess who's going to oversee her Offering to the Darkness can't ask, then who can?"
"I guess you're not beating around the bush," Maria murmured. "Yes, we've decided."
"Oh, that's nasty," Darcy said when no answer was forthcoming. "All right, then, who is it?"
"Does it matter, so long as it's done?" Maria leaned back against the powder table.
"Well, yeah! You're a Queen - the first major Queen since the Phoenix Court dissolved, and the first Territory Queen in, oh, twenty years or something. That's nearly longer than I've been alive! Of course people are curious about who's going to take care of your Virgin Night, who's going to serve in your court, and who's going to be your Blood triangle."
Darcy wondered if she'd been a little bit too emphatic, but the truth was that she was curious. And Maria was the kind of witch out of whom you had to drag every last bit of information, because she never offered any of it herself.
"If you don't want us to pry into it, then we won't." And that was Jane, being conciliatory. "It won't kill us."
"It won't kill you," Darcy retorted, good humoured. "I might die of curiosity."
Maria eyed them for a moment, then turned back to the mirror, staring into it as though she was only just seeing her reflection - or not seeing it at all. "The matters of the court are not up for discussion."
"Is that with lesser beings or just with us?"
"With anyone," came the repressive reply.
Darcy and Jane exchanged looks, recognising that there was something else at play here. Jane was willing to let it go by; Darcy wasn't. "You mean you're not going to discuss this with anyone - even Prince Fury?"
"Prince Fury isn't the Queen," Maria said and although her voice was level, Darcy rather thought it was a bit too cool. Trouble in that quarter? Well, it was rumoured that Prince Fury wasn't happy with the addition of Prince Banner to the court, although exactly why wasn't certain.
Of course, there were the rumours that Prince Banner had killed a Queen out in the West - although, so far as Darcy knew, nobody had asked the direct question - so maybe Prince Fury's concern was justified?
"It's a Queen's right to choose her own First Circle," Jane observed, "even if the males she chooses don't always get along with each other. Thor said that the males in his mother's First Circle still sometimes argue - and in Asgard, things can get very bloody and violent very fast. Whatever the choices you make, I'm sure they'll be the right choices for you."
"And if you need someone to talk them over with..."
"Darcy!" Jane rolled her eyes, but Maria smiled.
"The offer is appreciated. Even if the questions aren't."
"If you don't ask, you don't get."
"Well, you're not getting anything anyway, Darcy."
"But at least now I know I'm not going to get any answers!"
Maria was frowning again, her brows drawn together. "We're needed outside," she said abruptly. "Now."
At first Darcy thought it was a distraction, because everything looked normal out in the restaurant, nothing that might have prompted Maria's concern. But both Prince Coulson and Lord Barton's heads turned towards Maria as she crossed the room with swift strides.
"What is it?"
"A...feeling. Like a call, only..."
"Only?"
"Stronger. Someone needs me." Abruptly her gaze focused, and she headed for the door, only to find her way swiftly blocked by Prince Coulson. "What?"
Half the restaurant were already on their feet - the male half - ready to spring into action if they were needed.
It was Thor who spoke first, a deep, gentle rumble of concern. "It may not be safe, Lady."
"Maybe not, but I still have to go." She looked up at him, wide-eyed and serious. "You can come and loom protectively if it makes you feel better, Prince Odinsson, but I'm going."
And she went, followed by Thor and Barton. Prince Coulson glanced at Jane and Darcy, as though caught between whether he should stay and escort them or follow after his Queen. Darcy took the decision out of his hands, grabbing Jane's hand and heading for the door after Maria. No way were they going to miss this!
Maria was already heading down the street towards the landing web, nearly running in her haste to get there before whatever was about to happen happened. Thor was keeping pace with her in the darkness, and Barton was only a few strides behind.
"This is crazy!" Jane said as they hurried along the street, Coulson keeping just abreast of them instead of rushing on ahead as Darcy was pretty sure he wanted to.
"Yeah, but aren't you curious?"
Ahead of them, the landing web was still and silent, illuminated by witchlights that streamed Maria's shadow out behind her as she reached the landing web and paused.
Quiet, with only the noises from the town behind them to fill the empty night.
A moment later, a man appeared in the middle of the pattern, misjudged his landing, and stumbled off the web, his every movement telegraphing his exhaustion as his legs seemed to give out from under him.
Maria caught him as he came down, sprawling in the grass by the web with an audible 'oof' that huffed all the breath out of her.
In her lap, the man stirred, his expression blank as he looked up at her, frowning, before his brows drew together. "Lady?"
"You called me," she said, and it was almost a question.
Thor had called in a bladed weapon and was holding it ready, his posture tense, his expression careful and wary. Barton had called in a small crossbow and aimed it at the unknown male before Maria waved him down.
And Coulson nearly fell over his feet as he stopped to look down into the handsome face and the dazed blue eyes that stared up at Maria with a faint frown in them. "Prince Rogers?"
--
Chapter 12: Strength In Service
SUMMARY: Darcy wondered if she'd been a little bit too emphatic, but the truth was that she was curious.
CHARACTERS: Darcy, Phil, Clint, Jane, Maria, Thor, Steve
DETAILS: Master Post
Chapter 11: Dying Of Curiosity
Darcy was more than a little relieved that she was partnered with Prince Coulson for the evening.
Not that there was anything wrong with Lord Barton - actually, Darcy thought he was the better looking of the two - but he did tend to look just a little bit stern, and everyone knew he was devoted to Lady Romanoff, who was a Black Widow and about a hundred years old, even if she did only look like she was in her mid-twenties.
But when Thor and Jane had come past the Sanctuary with the carriage to pick her up for dinner, she'd had this sudden, horrible thought that Maria would bring an escort and she'd be left playing fifth wheel.
Not exactly her idea of a fun night.
However, when they'd arrived at the restaurant, she'd been seated next to Prince Coulson, who'd been attentive and courteous, and very much the perfect escort.
It was enough to make a witch wish she was a Queen.
"You look like you haven't been sleeping well," she said to Maria after the meal and the wine were ordered, and the menus taken away. Lord Barton was telling Thor and Jane about the work being completed on the residence. "Too many parties at Stark Manor?"
"Too many meetings at Stark Manor," Maria replied, sipping at her wine. "Rhodey - Lord Rhodes - finally marshalled the border guards sufficiently to get the leaders all in one place, and the discussion was mostly about border defences, and opening communications with the border Territories."
"I guess you've already got a connection with Asgard Territory," Darcy shot a look across the table at Thor where he was grinning at something Jane was saying. Jane had gotten so lucky when she'd found him out in a field. It was enough to make a Priestess wish she'd been out stargazing and fallen over a sexy, dark-Jewelled Warlord Prince in the night. "Have you decided on your Blood triangle yet?"
There was plenty of speculation about the court that would form around Maria - and plenty of jostling among Blood males seeking the opportunity to serve in her First Circle - or possibly even in her bed.
Every Queen's court held a trio of males - the Blood triangle - the most trusted, intimate members of her court. The Steward of the court managed the financial and social affairs of the Queen, the Master of the Guard looked after matters of her security and safety, and the Consort saw to the emotional and physical well-being of the woman.
Steward and Master of the Guard were usually filled by older males, trusted and reliable, but the position of Consort could be filled by any male to whom the Queen offered the Consort's Ring.
Darcy had heard more than a few whispers about the young Blood males trying to bring themselves to the notice of the Queen. Later tonight, at the theatre, there'd be plenty of swaggering young bucks strutting around trying to get Maria to admire their cocks.
The question nobody could answer was whether the Queen would duly admire - or even notice.
Of course, Maria hadn't yet had her Virgin Night, so a Consort was a moot point until she'd been safely seen through her first sexual experience and come through it with her inner web - the ability to do Craft and wear Jewels - intact.
And that was another matter of speculation - who was going to take the Queen through her Virgin Night? Of course, not something one could ask at the dinner table...
"It's under discussion," Maria said with a sideways look at Prince Coulson, referring to the choice of her Blood triangle.
"Is that what we're calling it?"
Maria ignored him and looked to Darcy. "And when we weren't meeting with the border guards, there were social events all over the place, none of which seemed able to go on without me."
"Well, you are the Queen, you know..."
"It's not something I'm going to forget when everyone keeps reminding me," she said, looking pointedly at Coulson, who just smiled. It seemed the argument was an old one, long since lost its sting.
"What news from the borders?" Thor asked, his deep voice carrying over the table. "No sign of any more Hydra?"
Maria, Coulson, and Barton exchanged glances. "No," Barton said. "It looks like the attack last year was the last of it."
"And the Red Skull?" Jane asked, curiously. "Wasn't there a Blood male behind it all?"
Both Maria and Barton looked to Coulson. The Prince cleared his throat, his Rose Jewel gleaming in the necklet he wore beneath the open throat of his shirt. "A group of males was sent to hunt down the Red Skull, his location mostly based on rumour. Since then..." He glanced at Maria, "After the last Hydra attack, we found someone with a visual identification of the Red Skull and passed it on to the leader of the hunting party."
"I heard he used to be in Lady Peggy's court - her Consort?"
"Yes," Coulson answered, smiling. "Prince Rogers. He's a legend in many circles-"
"Or just Coulson's," Barton said in mock-undertones.
"-an unparalleled warrior, and a man of honour. It's said he swore on Lady Peggy's grave to avenge her death if it took him the rest of his life."
Darcy sighed a little, not entirely immune to the thought of a male who'd swear to avenge her or die trying. "He's one of the long-lived races, isn't he? And still alive?"
"So far as we know."
"It's been months since we've heard from any of them, though." Barton pointed out, his voice practical. "They might all be whispers in the darkness. Given that the Red Skull started all this over twenty years ago and we only got a hint that he even existed this last year..."
"Rogers wore the Grey," Coulson said. "Even if he died, if he had the slightest bit of strength, he'd become demon-dead and continue the pursuit. That's the kind of man he is."
"You sound as though you knew him," Thor noted.
"I met him once when Lady Peggy's court passed through my village. I was a child and he was...memorable." There was a hint of sheepishness in Prince Coulson's voice.
"Not exactly his best friend," Lord Barton drawled.
"No more than Prince Howlett is yours, Clint," Maria remarked with sideways look, and it was Barton's turn to look sheepish.
Thor interrupted before the teasing could continue. "What do you think of this situation, Lady? It pertains to your safety, after all."
Darcy watched as Maria turned the stem of her wine glass around between her fingers. "The Hydra are gone. We've had no sighting of them since...since last Winsol. The Red Skull..." She stared at the wine, liquid red in the candlelight of the dinner table. "The Red Skull is being dealt with. I was given that assurance."
Curiosity shone on both Jane and Thor's faces, but they were too polite to ask. Darcy wasn't, but waiters began hovering with their food, and when they'd laid the plates down, the maitre'd wished to check that everything was to their satisfaction. After that, there was food and conversation that had nothing to do with mysterious promises given to Queens, much to Darcy's dismay.
But Darcy was nothing if not curious and persistent. That was one of the reasons she and Jane were friends. Of course, Jane's curiosity was about Craft and the things the Blood could do with spells and Jewelled power, and Darcy's curiosity was about people and the things that went on in their lives, but it was still curiosity.
The group ate dinner, discussed Prince Stark's engagement to Miss Potts, the peculiar nature of Prince Banner's caste, and the play that they were going to see tonight. They decided dessert would wait for after the play, and the ladies went to freshen up in the powder room before they headed off to the theatre.
"So," Darcy said as Maria checked her reflection and decided that all she needed to do was tuck a wisp of hair behind her ear, "Have you decided who's going to be taking care of your Virgin Night?"
"Darcy!"
Darcy rolled her eyes at Jane, who was blushing and looking rather too horrified. "What? It's not like everyone isn't speculating about it. And if a Priestess who's going to oversee her Offering to the Darkness can't ask, then who can?"
"I guess you're not beating around the bush," Maria murmured. "Yes, we've decided."
"Oh, that's nasty," Darcy said when no answer was forthcoming. "All right, then, who is it?"
"Does it matter, so long as it's done?" Maria leaned back against the powder table.
"Well, yeah! You're a Queen - the first major Queen since the Phoenix Court dissolved, and the first Territory Queen in, oh, twenty years or something. That's nearly longer than I've been alive! Of course people are curious about who's going to take care of your Virgin Night, who's going to serve in your court, and who's going to be your Blood triangle."
Darcy wondered if she'd been a little bit too emphatic, but the truth was that she was curious. And Maria was the kind of witch out of whom you had to drag every last bit of information, because she never offered any of it herself.
"If you don't want us to pry into it, then we won't." And that was Jane, being conciliatory. "It won't kill us."
"It won't kill you," Darcy retorted, good humoured. "I might die of curiosity."
Maria eyed them for a moment, then turned back to the mirror, staring into it as though she was only just seeing her reflection - or not seeing it at all. "The matters of the court are not up for discussion."
"Is that with lesser beings or just with us?"
"With anyone," came the repressive reply.
Darcy and Jane exchanged looks, recognising that there was something else at play here. Jane was willing to let it go by; Darcy wasn't. "You mean you're not going to discuss this with anyone - even Prince Fury?"
"Prince Fury isn't the Queen," Maria said and although her voice was level, Darcy rather thought it was a bit too cool. Trouble in that quarter? Well, it was rumoured that Prince Fury wasn't happy with the addition of Prince Banner to the court, although exactly why wasn't certain.
Of course, there were the rumours that Prince Banner had killed a Queen out in the West - although, so far as Darcy knew, nobody had asked the direct question - so maybe Prince Fury's concern was justified?
"It's a Queen's right to choose her own First Circle," Jane observed, "even if the males she chooses don't always get along with each other. Thor said that the males in his mother's First Circle still sometimes argue - and in Asgard, things can get very bloody and violent very fast. Whatever the choices you make, I'm sure they'll be the right choices for you."
"And if you need someone to talk them over with..."
"Darcy!" Jane rolled her eyes, but Maria smiled.
"The offer is appreciated. Even if the questions aren't."
"If you don't ask, you don't get."
"Well, you're not getting anything anyway, Darcy."
"But at least now I know I'm not going to get any answers!"
Maria was frowning again, her brows drawn together. "We're needed outside," she said abruptly. "Now."
At first Darcy thought it was a distraction, because everything looked normal out in the restaurant, nothing that might have prompted Maria's concern. But both Prince Coulson and Lord Barton's heads turned towards Maria as she crossed the room with swift strides.
"What is it?"
"A...feeling. Like a call, only..."
"Only?"
"Stronger. Someone needs me." Abruptly her gaze focused, and she headed for the door, only to find her way swiftly blocked by Prince Coulson. "What?"
Half the restaurant were already on their feet - the male half - ready to spring into action if they were needed.
It was Thor who spoke first, a deep, gentle rumble of concern. "It may not be safe, Lady."
"Maybe not, but I still have to go." She looked up at him, wide-eyed and serious. "You can come and loom protectively if it makes you feel better, Prince Odinsson, but I'm going."
And she went, followed by Thor and Barton. Prince Coulson glanced at Jane and Darcy, as though caught between whether he should stay and escort them or follow after his Queen. Darcy took the decision out of his hands, grabbing Jane's hand and heading for the door after Maria. No way were they going to miss this!
Maria was already heading down the street towards the landing web, nearly running in her haste to get there before whatever was about to happen happened. Thor was keeping pace with her in the darkness, and Barton was only a few strides behind.
"This is crazy!" Jane said as they hurried along the street, Coulson keeping just abreast of them instead of rushing on ahead as Darcy was pretty sure he wanted to.
"Yeah, but aren't you curious?"
Ahead of them, the landing web was still and silent, illuminated by witchlights that streamed Maria's shadow out behind her as she reached the landing web and paused.
Quiet, with only the noises from the town behind them to fill the empty night.
A moment later, a man appeared in the middle of the pattern, misjudged his landing, and stumbled off the web, his every movement telegraphing his exhaustion as his legs seemed to give out from under him.
Maria caught him as he came down, sprawling in the grass by the web with an audible 'oof' that huffed all the breath out of her.
In her lap, the man stirred, his expression blank as he looked up at her, frowning, before his brows drew together. "Lady?"
"You called me," she said, and it was almost a question.
Thor had called in a bladed weapon and was holding it ready, his posture tense, his expression careful and wary. Barton had called in a small crossbow and aimed it at the unknown male before Maria waved him down.
And Coulson nearly fell over his feet as he stopped to look down into the handsome face and the dazed blue eyes that stared up at Maria with a faint frown in them. "Prince Rogers?"
--
Chapter 12: Strength In Service