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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Sept 12, 2011 13:19:48 GMT -5
It felt odd to be on horseback again after just a few weeks of settling down in Camelot. Good in a way, but it also brought back memories Yassia would have rather pushed aside. Even though it was only a short trip from her uncle’s estate to that of Caitrin de Archer who had so generously and friendly invited her over to dinner, it felt like being back on the road. It was not the same horse, as she had lost the one given to her by Vortigern’s father on her crossing the channel, and it was by no means her OWN horse that had been killed by Vortigern to prevent her from fleeing. However it was a good enough mount, given to her by her generous and kind uncle, but previous experience had taught her not to get too attached to it. It didn’t even have a name yet.
The directions she had been given were very clear and so Yassia doubted she would get lost – which she had gotten a LOT during her long travels. It was a lovely day and after the initial unease had died down, the princess actually enjoyed being out in the open. Having heard at least a bit of what had happened to her during her travels – for his and her own sake Yassia had been very vague about details – her uncle had insisted of sending a guard with her, a very calm and quiet middle aged warrior who her uncle trusted to not make any fuss in protecting her, while at the same time being past the age of giving her odd glances. Yassia didn’t mind his company, but also felt not encouraged to speak, rather sent her thoughts flying ahead to the meeting with Lady Caitrin.
Even from the few words they had exchanged, Yassia had realized she would probably get on well with the young woman, and it would be nice to have something at least close to a friend for the time she was here. Always having been social, the princess didn’t like the thought of sitting at her uncle’s manor all day, fiddling her thumbs while waiting for King Uther to bestow her with the help for Ailantha she needed.
As she was sitting side-saddle as was proper for a lady, the tempo of their journey was more sluggish than Yassia would have liked, but she took the opportunity to admire the landscape, while one hand was resting on her dark green riding dress. It was a new gown and she was very proud of it and grateful to her uncle’s generosity. She didn’t wear much jewelry as would have been befitting to a woman of her status, but then she had posed as a commoner for almost half a year and had gotten used to this kind of plain appearance.
Only a silver pendant with a green stone adorned her slender neck, a keepsake her uncle had taken with him from her mother before he had joined the training to become a knight of Camelot all those many years back.
Finally the de Archer estate came into view, and Yassia saw Lady Caitrin already standing in the courtyard, ready to greet her, which caused a smile to appear on the princess’ face. To keep up manners she waited until her guard had dismounted to give her a hand, although she could have easily hopped off the horse by herself.
Then she walked towards Caitrin and extended both hands in the traditional international greeting gesture that once had bore the meaning of: See I am unarmed and wish you only well.
“Lady Caitrin! I thank you so much again for inviting me! This place is enchanting I have to say!” |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 31, 2011 15:28:55 GMT -5
Yassia bit her lips to keep an unseemly chuckle frome escaping her lips. Now that was truly funny indeed. She wondered what Merlin had done for so thoroughly vanishing from King Uther’s books. Yassia herself had never showed quite so much interest in her servants back in Ailantha, they had been there and she had been friendly to them, but apart from her favourite handmaid, she had never developed any close relationship with them.
And she had not seen enough of Merlin to really fathom his personality, but when he was prone to trouble, she could understand he was not the most favourite person in the king’s eyes. For trouble meant unnecessary expense often enough, of time and money.
Then again, Arthur surely saw something in him, and even though he had been unconscious most of the time, Yassia had grown to like Merlin’s heart of gold as well.
“Maybe he can prove useful then from time to time”, she commented nonchalantly, not wanting to speak out of line.
Uther’s words caused Yassia to furrow her brows in confusion for a second, until what he had wanted to say formed some sense in her mind, and she could not help but chuckle this time, shaking her head wildly.
“No, King Uther, you got me wrong. Not I was the one suffering from such a blow, it was Merlin! I thought your son had told you about this little adventure? That’s how I got to know them, they were both running from some bandits and Merlin was injured. I happened to be in the tavern they chose as a shelter, and I got the bolt out of his shoulder.” She better didn’t mention all the uncomfortable things that happened after that, how the bandits had found them again and Arthur had and some impossible good luck had saved them just in the nick of time.
“And I thank you for your kindness, Sire! I will make sure not to cause any embarrassment and will try to give back what I have been offered here”, she said, her eyes suddenly gleaming. “I thank God for the fate that provided my mother with a brother that is now one of your knights!”
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 31, 2011 11:32:42 GMT -5
It was official, she had never quite despised a man quite as much as this one. She didn’t have a name of him, but that didn’t stop her from making up very unpleasant names for him in her own mind, never voicing them of course – better safe than sorry – but the variety was quite refreshing. Probably neither of them were words a lady should ever use even in her imagination, but Yassia couldn’t care less. She would NOT give her name and rank to him, he could wait a lifetime or more for that!
”If I told you it would only help YOU, not me!” she retorted, crossing her arms defiantly. “I can’t see why my name should alter anything in our current situation, or make your more ‘helpful’ than you’re already are.” On the contrary, he would probably do something far less becoming to her personal future! Yassia didn’t know how far the arm of her uncle might stretch, but she had always kept her name to herself in fear of it being recognized, along with the story behind it. You never knew…
And he HAD to rub it in, that he thought himself master of this situation, yes? Annoying didn’t even cover it, and the list of names inside Yassia’s head was adorned with a few more imaginative names. But as he didn’t seem fazed by them, she refrained from hurling them into his face. He probably would only laugh, and Yassie hated being laughed at.
About his expression of ‘sticks and stones’ she furrowed her brows a little, needing a little time to place it correctly. This language, after all, was not her native, and even if her mother had taught her nicely, her accent and such moments usually gave away her foreign roots. Not that it would change anything now. She had gotten the gist that he did not care to be called a monstrosity or probably anything else.
Yassia’s breath caught in her throat when he raised his hand. The gesture that followed was such an intimate one it didn’t belong in these circumstances at all – and he knew that, used it only to scare her. And he did a good job. Panic… it flooded her mind like a surge, washing away all anger and confidence, leaving only raw fear. He hadn’t even started, was only teasing, only suggesting, and yet she felt like she couldn’t even bear as much. She tried to hold his revolting gaze, wanting to show him that she was of royal blood and no one to be messed with, that she could live through whatever he would throw at her, but when his hand grazed her cheek she turned her head away, not brusquely, almost resignated, and the eye contact broke. Helpless… utterly helpless and at his mercy. Nothing much left of proud Princess Yassia right now.
She knew he wanted her to be more concrete, and everything in her screamed not to say anything along that line of what he wanted to hear, but she didn’t have much longer. She could only gamble the highest stakes of her life, and hope for a miracle…
“… then… I am yours… bastardo!” She finished, her voice nearly inaudible, still not looking at him. The last word was a last upflaming of the hate she felt for him, but it wasn’t even voiced with enough vigor to be halfway insulting. It was nothing but the truth. She would be his, unless she’d find a way to flee from his grasp before the worst could happen. |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 30, 2011 13:08:01 GMT -5
He had taken on it like she had expected him to. That further confirmed her notion of him, that he was cunning to the brink of devious, all too ready to exploit any opportunity that might come his way, and with a brain to match such ambitions. Yassia did not even know his name, but she already knew that whoever he was, he was a powerful ally or a horrible foe. And to her he had proven to be the latter. In a way, he reminded her of Vortigern, and that didn’t make it any easier. But where Vortigern still had held up some royal standards even though his heart was rotten through and through with his lust for war and power, Yassia had a feeling that she now was dealing with something even worse. A man without so much as the hint of a conscience, who would only laugh honor and right in the face, if he even recognized it at all. It was just her luck, truly!
He asked now further who she was, teasing her claimed importance to provoke a reaction, but Yassia would not do him the favor. She was already in enough trouble as it was.
”I might have been stupid enough to ever stop and ask you for help, Sir”, she hissed and glared at him. “But I am by no means stupid enough to dig my grave deeper. Who I am does not concern you, and that’s the end of it.”
His open approval of her cruel words did not surprise her, but they discouraged her. For deep inside she had still hoped to trigger another reaction, to get a tiny spark of good out in him, but now she saw there was none. And she should get on this man’s ‘good side’? It was rather getting dragged to his completely BAD side, was it not? And she could not bring herself to do that. It was unthinkable! She might have lived a sheltered life, but by now she had learned the meaning of a leer, and it filled her with dread and anger alike. How dare he indeed?!
”Honest?!” she spat the word out and let go a bitter laugh. “That you even dare to use this word! Honesty might be a virtue, but in your case it is nothing but a monstrosity! Like you are!”
Alright, now she slowly had found her anger again, but that didn’t necessarily mean a good thing. In the end, it all came down to this: She needed to get away and he was the only obstacle between her and freedom. The path of friendliness had been thoroughly blocked by now, but it had not been her chosing. But fighting against him? She’d be a fool even to try!
She could hear them getting closer, even though they still were a little further away. The thought of what would await her when they found her sent chills down her spine. Oh no, Cenred would not be pleased. He would make her pay for her disobedience this time, and dearly. Three days without food was a light punishment compared to anything he might have on his cruel mind. And just too bad that the prospects right before her didn’t seem much rosier. Another shudder ran down her spine when she looked up into the man’s face, seeing the confidence of imminent victory flaming up in his eyes. Either way he would win, for Cenred might reward him nicely for his aid in her capture.
And her time was running out…
His words made her shiver with repulsion, and for a moment she really couldn’t decide. There was it, the choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. Though who was the devil, Cenred or him, was hard to tell. She winced at another shout, seeming so much closer now, and then she took a deep breath. Beggars were no chosers, wasn’t that the old saying?
”What do you want?” she asked him, fighting hard to keep her voice from quivering. “Keep me out of their hands and you’ll get it. Look at it that way: If they take me away, I’ll be gone from your grasp, and you might get a reward but with Cenred you never know. He might just kill you as a thank you. However, if they don’t get me…”
She let that sentence hang there in the air between them, everything in her tightening up into one sickening knot that made her want to throw up. First things first, she told herself. You’ll deal with him later, now only use him as your tool… |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 29, 2011 11:01:12 GMT -5
Yassia loved the gardens of Camelot. It was a sea of calm in an otherwise bustling castle, a safe haven for those sometimes overcome with melancholy or simply with too much on their minds. Even though it did not resemble at all the beautiful oasis garden back in Ailantha, with its cypresses and little palm trees and the gurgling, murmuring fountains, but it still brought back memories of easier times. When her day had been filled with sitting in such a beautiful garden, reading all day or trying to memorize the herbs that grew in it; when her worst concern had been which dress to wear for the splendid dinner event and dance after that – when she had been safe.
But even though thoughts of that time should make her feel even more homesick, the calamity of the beautiful gardens were balm for her soul as well. And it gave her time to think, try to file away all the interesting or horrifying events of her journey, finally making her peace with some particularly unpleasant episodes. She might never be able to forget them, but here it was easier to deal with them, not like in those nightmares that still haunted her most nights. Dreams in which she was running but couldn’t seem to gain even one yard of ground while her pursuers came closer and closer. It never were actual people hunting her, but wolves. That didn’t keep her from attaching names to each of them though, as far as she knew them. Vortigern, Prince of Sorelia and King Cenred. And fleeing from Cenred had practically driven her into the arms of some other cruel man she didn’t even know the name of today. Now she was safe from them all, but that didn’t stop the demons of the night eating away her confidence and making her waking up screaming.
Such things however, were not made for the beautiful day and the sunshine Yassia was now graced with, and for a little while she put the memories aside and was confident just to stroll through the gardens, bending down here to sniff a flower or sitting down there for a little rest, exposing her olive toned skin to the sun.
Fiddling with the long sleeves of her brand new dress, in a wonderfully shimmering color between blue and green, Yassia then closed her eyes for a little, allowing the peace of her surroundings to take command of her mind.
Like this she sat for a while until she heard footsteps approaching. Even though she felt safe in Camelot, even after just a few weeks, Yassia’s eyes still opened instantly, scanning her surroundings for the fellow soul with probably the same idea. No threat of course was awaiting her, but the figure of a young noble woman now leaning against an overgrown stone wall slightly to the right of the bench Yassia was resting on.
Not sure if she had been spotted already in her contemplative position, Yassia raised a hand in a friendly greeting and commented: “A splendid day, is it not?”
She couldn’t remember if she had seen this particularly noblewoman before, as there were many often visiting the castle from their surrounding estates, like Yassia did herself ever since her uncle Cai had given her shelter in his nearby estate. But whether they had been introduced yet or not, she surely would find out soon. |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 29, 2011 7:15:53 GMT -5
Yassia did not like to be mocked. Not liking perhaps even was the understatement of the year. It made her feared temper flame up, but she had still enough sense to realize losing it right here and now would not do any good. On the contrary, it could become even more dangerous than this encounter already had turned out to be. She would have liked to scratch this man’s eyes out, truly, but in the end, she only hissed:
”If you had ANY idea who you are dealing with here, you would not risk such a big gob as you do right now!” The very next second she would have liked to slap herself, hard, for her obvious stupidity. Now she had done it, opened up a field of investigation that could only lead to her inevitable downfall. He was a smart man… he would figure out somehow that she was someone of importance. And importance meant leverage, no matter in what country.
She might just have signed her own death warrant, congratulations, Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha who would have so much liked to become queen…
Now she had to tread very carefully. Her next answer was evasive for this very reason. The old Yassia would have proudly given her title and demanded the respect she deserved. But the new Yassia had seen too many misfortunes coming out of her inherited boldness. Sadly it did not make her shut up when she needed to, but it at least prevented certain words from leaving her mouth all too eagerly.
”And what I see is a man without so much as a hint of concern or pity who takes advantage of an innocent maidens’ misfortune for his own gain – whatever that may be. Maybe you just like to harass people”, she replied sharply, but cast nervous glances over her shoulder. She was clearly running out of time, her head start had not been massive, even though she had managed to slip out in the middle of the night. But her pursuers were sure to be mounted where she only could rely on her two swift feet.
And the situation became worse with every second. Now the man started to circle her as if he had read her innermost thoughts. Yassia didn’t even want to know what was on his mind, and she took in a sharp breath as he suddenly was so close. Her hand involuntarily darted towards the place where her dagger once had been. But of course Cenred had not been stupid enough to leave her armed – at least he didn’t know about the little blade tucked away in her left boot. She had a feeling she might need to use it soon.
That he had no honor whatsoever didn’t need much more confirmation, but the blunt and nonchalant confession shocked her still. And then he gripped her arm. An indignantly hissed: “Get off me!” was all she got out before he raised his voice and alarmed the men that were sure to roam somwhere in the distance. It was the only loud sound within miles, there was no way this couldn’t have been heard. And truly, just a second later a male voice shouted back in the distance: “This way!”
Even though she knew it was far too late, Yassia whirled around and impulsively raised her free hand to cover her captors mouth in a desperate attempt to silence him, her eyes wide with shock and fear. Fear of what was now sure to follow. “No, don’t! Be quiet… please!” |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 28, 2011 17:05:49 GMT -5
Sweet Stars, how stupid she had been! By even so much as stopping, Yassia seemed to have sealed her fate. Now she had trapped herself in a conversation which seemed to turn more dangerous and wrong by the second. What did this man want with her?
Surpressing a shudder, Yassia took a step back when he invaded her personal space so brutally and yet slowly, deliberately… predatory almost. Was that was she was to him? A prey to be slowly encircled, like with a pack of wolves? Just that he was a lone wolf, but that did make him any less dangerous. On the contrary, Yassia knew enough about the animal world to know that the lone wolves often were the most to fear. Because they were desperate, and they were cunning.
“Is that so?” she commented, trying to hide the upflaming of fear. “Just be careful, this policy might get you hurt one day.”
Bold words indeed, and Yassia knew herself how hollow they sounded, how very unthreatening indeed. What could she hold against him? By stopping and asking him for help she had practically asked for even more trouble. It was just her luck, really! At least he had stepped back now, it allowed Yassia to breathe more freely at once. Though his words were not made to keep up this little reprieve. They rather made memories return to her mind, thoughts and pictures she had shut away firmly to deal with later, if anytime at all. Memories of Cenred’s smirks, his suggestive comments, and the danger she had always felt around him. Now with this man she felt the same and it made her feet want to start running again, as fast as they could.
But her path was blocked. By him, this towering dark man with a most unsettling presence.
“What you want in return?” she asked, incredulous and put as much regal aloofness in her voice as she possibly could. It was not hard, as the comment sounded just ridiculous to her ears, even if she knew he was deadly serious. “Who are you to demand anything from me?”
But deep inside, Yassia knew she had already lost this game before she even started to play it. He was right, he had the upper hand. Curse her for ever telling him her captor’s name! He had extricated enough information from her to now openly blackmail her, and she had been stupid enough to walk in this trap with eyes wide open! Curse her panic! Would she never learn?!
This was now the third male she felt being at his mercy, first Vortigern then Cenred, and now him. Why was fate so cruel to her?! What on earth should she do?
“If you have any honor in you, Sir, you will now let me pass and not hinder me continuing on my way. I will do without your help!” |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 25, 2011 14:18:40 GMT -5
 With her eyesight gone for the moment, Yassia tried to make use of her hearing and other senses to get a rough idea of where she might be. Stone under her feet, at least this could not be a mouldering forest cabin… only richer men could afford paving their courtyard with stone. But it was not only stone she felt, most of the courtyard seemed overgrown to an almost neglected extent. Then again, Yassia had never been in Sorelia before, so this would not help her in placing her whereabouts on any higher scale. She might not even have needed the sac over her head to be completely lost, but Vortigern was nothing if not thorough.
Soon though Yassia had many other problems being more prominent than the question of her current lodging. Whether her captors had forgotten she was injured or they were brutes enough to merely not care, the princess was apparently expected to walk inside. She felt herself being dragged forward, and even though she was provided with a considerate: "Watch your step princess,", the mercy didn’t stretch so far as to spare her the agony of walking. Hobbling as best as she could, Yassia for once was glad that the sac concealed her face. So she could screw up her face into a mask of agony and even letting a few tears run down her cheeks, as she tried with all her might to let no sound of pain escape her lips. Silently she cursed every single man of this group of savages to the lowest parts of hell, but she did not dare voice any of this, for fear of crying out instead.
And once again, the worst was yet to come. A staircase! Normally those were mere inconveniences, but as soon as she has managed the first two, it dawned on Yassia that pain beyond compare was to be her new friend. However much she tried, there was no circumventing the fact that for a short few seconds all her weight needed to be beared by the injured leg, and that her twisted knee didn’t buckle and let her tumble down the flight below was nothing short of a miracle. However as things were now, with pain erupting from her leg and radiating from there into her whole body, Yassia didn’t know she wouldn’t have liked that better, falling, and maybe breaking her neck. At least then it would all be over. Already she could taste blood on her lips where she had bitten right through in the agonizing attempt to not give them the satisfaction of hearing her pleading.
Being tossed into the room, however brutal it was and however hard the cold stone floor greeted her, felt almost like salvation. At least she didn’t have to stand anymore. Like this, sprawled on the ground in complete darkness, she stayed for a countless while, waiting for the pain to die down and for her heartbeat to slow. Again, all she could do was wait, already dreading the instant Vortigern would walk through the door, starting who knew what with her.
She didn’t have to wait long. Sooner than she would have liked she heard the heavy lock rattle and hastily rolled to face the direction she remembered the door to be in. Her knee now felt hot and swollen, hurting even without weighing it. That was not good. But there was nothing she could do about it now.
"Yassia," "How have you been faring?" "I know you are used to more, extravagant accommodations."
She blinked up at his towering presence, even the little light hurting her eyes after the complete darkness she had been in. As if he would care for her wellbeing, what a laugh! What should she grace his comments with? Just a snort or a cheeky remark? Even though neither was advisable, Yassia decided on the latter.
“They were almost amiable until you showed up”, she told him frankly, shrugging. “Can’t say I was too crestfallen not to see your face for a while.” |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 24, 2011 13:09:00 GMT -5
Would he do it? Would he really kick her now? She should have known he would take that as the same invitation as he had done before when she had said something about dragging. Forcing herself to take deep and levelled breaths, she tried to hide her fear to the best of her abilities, and was gladly rewarded with him dropping the subject – for now! There was still no telling what would all come later, when they had reached their mysterious destination… No, better stay in the present, Yassia, don’t worry about what’s to come next, that will only drive you mad with fear… nothing is worse than an imagination running into overdrive because all it could be fuelled with was remarks and speculation…
And she needn’t forget who she was! Vortigern was on a good way to make her believe she was the scum he treated her as! But she was a princess and always would be, regardless what he said! And a princess did not bow to savagery!
She hadn’t even entertained the high hopes of actually getting to know his plans. He was right, in a sick way. Following his logic it was a far better way to keep her in the dark, about anything. Yassia would only dread the worst, and that’s where he wanted her: scared witless. Nothing was as fearful as the unknown. A detached part of her mind actually bowed to the efficiency of his mind. He seemed to have planned this at length, and so far the plan was flawless. She had even helped him along with her stupid try to escape. With two intact legs she could have waited for the perfect opportunity to really make a run for it, when he least expected it. But now… she would have had to think harder. Giving up of course was out of question! Even though nothing would come to her mind right now, she simply HAD to find a way.
But another humiliation was yet to come, and there was nothing she could do about it. First he tied up her hands, the rope he used cutting already into her skin when he fastened it, fastened it tight! Chomping down on her lips again she fought against the urge to whimper with pain. Then he even produced a rag from this dreaded sac he was carrying and Yassia’s eyes grew wide when she realized what he wanted to do. “No, don’mmmhhmmmm!” she called out the rest of the sentence already made unintellegible by the cloth. It was dirty and reeked of something she didn’t even want to waste any thought on, the sour taste of it against her lips made her retch. Gagged… like a common criminal… truly, what was next?!
Apparently, THIS was next: Without so much as a proper warning, he put his hands on her waist and lifted her up on a horse, already manned by one of his knights. His touch made her shudder visibly, but it was at least not him who she was riding with…
But she had not much time to be smug, because Vortigern’s worst coup so far was just waiting around the figurative corner. At first she didn’t understand when the sac came closer and closer to her face, but then she yelped up in shock, producing nothing but another “hhmmmmmhhhhmmmm” sound. Then her world went dark. Yassia’s heart started to race and her breathing accelerated, making her head swim. Air! She needed air!!! She would suffocate in this sac before the next ten minutes were through!!
Faintly she heard Vortigerns last words: "Ride as quickly as you can, and do not stop until you have reached the arranged destination." "Pleasant journey Princess Yassia," and then the horse reared up and sped forward. For a few moments Yassia had more to do with staying on horseback with her hands tied up and trying not to get any body contact with the knight in front of her, and when she finally had a secure position again, she found that the panic had died down considerably. She could even feel a light breeze making its way under the hood that covered her head now. So she would not suffocate. If that was a good thing, concerning the hours or maybe even days that were to come, Yassia didn’t know.
But yet again there was nothing she could do about it. Soon losing track of time, the repetetive dull rhythm of the horse hooves lulled her into a dozing state and so she actually starteled when the hooves suddenly clattered over stone, and the horses were reined in. They had reached their destination… what would come now? |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 22, 2011 16:58:09 GMT -5
Of course he would call her out on her admittedly empty threat. She had expected it, but that didn’t diminish the uproar of anger she felt towards him yet again. Oh, he would see in time! Right now he might have the upper hand on things, but soon there would come a time when the tables could be turned. And then he would pay. For every slap, for every threat and for every single humiliation. Yassia had never thought herself to be an avenging angel or ever wanting to stoop to violence as a reconciliation, but Vortigern brought the worst out in her. Imagining what she would do to him after she had safely returned from Camelot with the help she needed gave her a grim satisfaction that made the situation right now almost bearable.
Those images even calmed her down enough she could answer his comment with a smug look, as if she knew something he didn’t; but she didn’t speak up. For now she had learned her lesson.
The pain crowded out any other feelings for a short while, but as soon as he tossed her to the ground again, where her already aching body made contact with the hard and slightly rocky soil, the hatred for him flamed up again like a flash fire. How dare he treat her like this! How could he even think to add more and more humiliation to everything?! It was as though he had no idea who she was, but the fact that he knew it all to well made the matter even worse.
“Oh yes you must feel so grand, kicking someone who’s already down”, she jeered. It was out before she could stop herself and for a moment raw fear took over her mind, her guts contracting with a sickening feeling as she dreaded the consequences of her rash action. Shouldn’t she know by now that you better never opened your mouth in rage before having counted to ten? It was a wise council her nursemaid, all too familiar with her hot blooded temper, had given her once. But Princess Yassia did not often heed advices that were not her own.
Now the other men came into view, and Yassia recognized some of them by sight. They had been with Vortigern on his cursed courtesy visit to Ailantha the previous year. Either he had no other friends or he had chosen them deliberately, for whatever purpose.
Her mind started to race as they talked about ‘the place’. Would they bring her somewhere far enough away from the castle? But why? She already had had the suspicion that this action could by no means be taken with the consent of King Gildas, but that was by no means a comforting thought. What was going on here for real? Wasn’t he going to make her a state hostage? Again fear found its way into Yassia’s mind. If she was locked away somewhere remote with only Vortigern and his goons knowing her whereabouts, anything could happen… it was by no means sure she would ever leave this place again… no witnesses…
No, she did not like this, and she did like the rope in his hands even less, as he now approached her. Being restrained like that would limit her chances of escape considerably! Everything in her practically screamed to squirm even in advance, trying to avoid the rope, but she was reasonable enough to weigh the consequences more severe than the binding itself. Instead of answering his question, she hurled her other concern at him:
“Where will you take me? What’s on your wretched mind Vortigern?! What is this ‘site’ you are talking about?!” |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 22, 2011 11:26:57 GMT -5
Her luck was running out. Yassia was smart enough to realise that. Any luck she might have had with this situation to begin with was rapidly fading. Time to rein herself in perhaps. Oh yes, it was high time!
When Vortigern, that impossible and yet highly to be feared man raised his hand again, the princess couldn’t help but draw back the tiniest inch, fear flaming up in her eyes. She remembered the pain, and it had not been a pleasant experience. He refrained from hitting her this time, but what he said was not made to make her relax. On the contrary!
"The next time I strike you it will be with a blade in my hand."
She didn’t need the look in his eyes to know he was speaking naught but the truth. If the situation had not been so severe, Yassia might have laughed. The sheer thought of someone of royal blood being hit in the face or cut with the blade was absurd. And yet she knew it would happen. Vortigern was a man to stay true to his gruesome promises.
Wincing yet again when he grabbed her chin brutally, Yassia tried to yank herself free, but that was all she did. However much she would have liked to call him the most unspeakable names in every language she was capable of, she knew she could not risk it. Not with her face in peril. That might sound vain indeed, and maybe Yassia also was vain, but she was also realistic. She knew that the looks of a woman were her greatest asset, and for a woman of her status all the more. Tales of love were all well and good, but fact was that in her world matches were made if the dowry was high enough and if the bride-to-be was not hideous. In Yassia’s case the dowry would be a whole kingdom and the prospect of a shared rule, but she knew she would be far from the choosing side if her looks were in any way mutilated. And Vortigern knew that too, he truly was a cunning bastard and knew exactly where to place his threats.
Silence seemed the best policy for Yassia right now, before her impossible tongue got her in trouble again. She ached to throw all his words back into his face, wanted to show him that he might think her his prisoner, but that nothing could ever take the dignity of a princess away from her, but instead she balled her fists and kept her peace – for now. Only two words managed to slip out through her tightly pressed lips, and they put into a nutshell all that she felt righ now and all that she wished on him: “You’ll pay.”
The moment those words about dragging had left her mouth, Yassia had wanted to slap herself, knowing full well what she had opened herself up to. Vortigern truly was in the mood to take her by her very word, just to humiliate her more and hurt her in every possible way. Never before had she felt so hated by anyone, even her uncle saw her more as a nuisance than actually truly disliked her. With this man it seemed different.
But Yassia had neither time nor peace to further ponde on this sad fact, as Vortigern let deeds follow his scornful words. She felt herself being dragged forward and hastened to get her legs in the right position, but the moment she put weight on the right foot, her knee twisted and buckled painfully.
“OW! Stop, STOP” she cried out, meaning it to sound demanding but a hint of pleading was audible for attentive ears. “For goodness sake, stop! AH!”
With that last outcry she involuntarily gripped the arm that dragged her tighter, chomping down on her lips as tears began to brim in her browngreen eyes. She knew the injure might be nothing serious, she had just twisted her knee and in a few days she’d be as good as new. Right now though, she was literally walking through hell. |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 21, 2011 20:48:51 GMT -5
Yassia had a hard time recalling when before in her life she had felt so helpless, humiliated and downright afraid. No real incident would come to her mind, and that didn’t make it any better. She might act all brave and defiant, and a part of her truly was, but it was a small part and it was losing groudn rapidly. She had heard enough rumors of Vortigern’s doings to know that he wasn’t all talk, and what she read in his eyes didn’t need any translation as well. He wanted her to pay, and so she would pay. For all her talk one fact could not be changed for now: whether she liked it or not, she WAS at his mercy… and would stay there unless some miracle happened, which was unlikely. Miracles don’t seem to accumulate in Yassia’s life. No miracle had saved her mother and brother and no miracle had saved her father from a crippling stroke. She had thought to defy fate by fleeing the scene that had been set up for her, but now she found herself wishing she still was locked up in her room and the worst prospect of the near future was marrying her cousin.
She had nothing to say to him for now, what would repeating that she didn’t intend to beg for either life or death help? She only shot him another of her favourite death glares, which probably wouldn’t even faze him. It was a cursed fact, but Yassia might have met her match. That might be why the actual trial of match-making had not worked out. She had despised him almost from the start for being the brute he was, and he had despised her for not being the fearful, doe-eyed airhead princess he probably wanted for his wife. And now their previous ‘history’ made matters only worse.
For now Yassia even resigned to staying on the ground. She would have to wait until her leg responded again without too much pain, even though she hated this visible act of superiority-inferiority the prince liked to play on. He WAS an intimidating figure when looming over her like that, like a hawk ready to pounce down on the mouse.
But however resigned she was, she would not dance to his tune.
"Unless you wish to escape now." "In which by all means, run." "Prove through actions what makes you so bold and strong as to defy me."
To that Yassia even managed an aloof eyeroll, though it didn’t match her inward feelings at all. She could already see his men and himself laughing at any futile limping escape, and this was just too much to bear. “Another thing you would like, eh?” she muttered, looking up to him with poisoned daggers in her eyes. “But it is not my body that makes me stronger than you are, it’s something you painfully lack: a brain.”
Alright, that again might not be the smartest thing to say, but Yassia was past caring. He already hated her and until she sat on horseback again there was no chance of escape. For now she had to literally ‘sit it out’, and pray her biting tongue would not kill her beforehand.
“You know full well I cannot walk, so you want me somewhere you might have to drag me there.” |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 21, 2011 18:06:56 GMT -5
At least she had managed to wipe the sneer off his face! That could be called a small victory indeed, as he seemed to find less and less reason to be amused by this situation. Yassia knew that her biting remark would most likely get her into more trouble, and probably more than it was worth, but it had never been in her to back down. In Ailantha, her temper fits were feared, and so far Vortigern had seen nothing yet! She was as tame as a kitten compared to her usual outbursts.
The other half of the story however she had not foreseen, like she never did. That was typical Yassia, burn the bridge underneath her feet and then wondering where the secure pathway over the fathomless deep had gone. Not that his behaviour had been any bridge at all though, still, keeping her mouth shut MIGHT have been the better option.
It might have spared her another serious humiliation. Not in her wildest dreams would Yassia have forseen what he did next. He… actually hit her! Only one man had ever before raised his hand against her in her life, and this event had been on of the final straws setting her decision firm to leave and find help elsewhere. Because if a man of royal blood stooped to hit a woman, there surely was something dearly wrong. Codes of chivalry meant nothing to this man and therefore no one could expect proper treatment.
Now she surely hadn’t left Ailantha to be greeted in the same manner here!
Needless to say that the slap was more than a light breeze managing to make her stumble with the impact, for a moment bringing all her weight down on her injured leg, which caused her to moan and fall to the side.
Not much dignity indeed! For now, her rage had died down considerably, being numbed by incredulousness and shock. How dare he indeed?! Vortigern had now overstepped more than one line, his last comment only being the unbelievable top of it all:
"You are in Soleria. And at my mercy, so beg for your life, or feel the full extent of my wrath."
It was true, her life was in his hands now, but what was the ancient phrase: battered but not broken, Vortigern would have to do a lot more than that to ever get Yassia to beg for her life!
Struggling again to her feet, feeling like one of those weird toys children sometimes had that constantly fell and got up again to the young ones’ greatest amusement, the princess hissed between clenched teeth:
”Beg for my life? Oh you would like that wouldn't you?! But I tell you one thing: I might be at your feet right now but I will never stoop THAT low!”
Absentmindly she rubbed her cheek where she was sure a bruise was already forming, she could even feel a bit of split skin where his gloves had hit right home. Excellent… so much for looking inconspicious! But right now she surely had other troubles than how she looked on her further jouney… if there was to be a further journey… |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 21, 2011 17:19:31 GMT -5
The game was lost – if it ever had been a game and not bloody and scary reality! Yassia knew any further try to escape was futile, she might as well try to face the inevitable with as much dignity as she could muster. Unfortunately there was not much dignity in crawling on the ground and being approached by a figure towering over you on horseback. In a very old volume in the library, Yassia had once seen the drawing of a stone statue, a proud man on horseback, his mount equally proudly prancing, lifting its right foot as if about to treat on someone beneath, even though the space was empty. Yassia now felt exactly like that, being some poor soul underneath the conquerors hooves, about to be smashed by the horse’s foot.
There truly was no dignity in any of this, and knowing Vortigern, he would surely milk it to the last drop.
Which in fact he did. "Wipe yourself off Princess Yassia. You are in the presence of royalty."
Never before had she been address with such sneer and scorn, it was a completely new and unpleasing experience for the proud princess. She couldn’t help but wince as the cloth he had tossed sailed down just inches from her face, touching her hair before falling to the ground. A faint metallic stench had reached her nostrils and as she looked down at the cloth now, she found it to be splattered with blood.
Her guts started to twinge, not because she hated seeing blood – as a parttime healer like her mother had been, she was used to the sight of it – but because it made her think whose blood this exactly was. Who had been the poor soul suffering from his hands before her? The blood seemed horribly fresh…
She shot a death glare upwards, again trying to regain her footing and get to her feet, to end this humiliating equestrian statue situation. “And you watch your tongue, Prince Vortigern, or the next lucky one with a scissor will cut it out! How dare you treat me like this, fill de…” The insult was only just cut off mid-sentence, as her temper once again took over. She could not very well accuse him of a loose tongue and then sprout such unseemly words!
Gritting her teeth and biting her lips hard, she made one last attempt to come to her feet, pushing herself off the ground with both her hands. Swaying, she finally stood. If she leaned her whole weight only on one leg, she managed just fine, but every blind man probably could see that just a breath of wind could blow her off balance again. This was all very unfortunate indeed… |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 21, 2011 16:15:29 GMT -5
Just away, away, as fast as she could! Gone was the concern about riding in the dark, nothing that was before her could be as horrible as what was behind her! She had no doubt that Vortigerns intentions were far from proper and right. Whether her uncle had truly contacted him or if he was just acting on fortunate hearsay and opportunity, the outcome stayed the same: she would be his hostage if he got a hold on her.
Her head-over-heels flight would be the shortest to go down in history! She had not even managed to come more than few days from her home, and now she should be held up by this cruel prince? Never! Leaning forward in the saddle, she heard hurried and multiplied hoofbeats behind her, now she was hunted like a hare or a fox!
Casting back a wary glance she made out a few shadows making ground faster than she would have liked. Vortigern as well was only a few horse lengths behind now, even if she had had a head start! This was not going to end well… but giving up was no option for Yassia either, she’d rather have the horse break its neck or she herself, before she would voluntarily give herself to the mercy of Vortigern of Sorelia! Everyone knew after all that mercy was not in his vocabulary!
She shouldn’t have thought so much about someone breaking his neck perhaps, she realised with a fearful lurch in her stomach, as suddenly her mount seemed to be hit by something, shrieked in pain, stumbled and reared up.
Leaning forward as she was, Yassia did not have the perfect balance in her position, and so when the horse faltered she already lost balance and was thrown off her horse the next instant at nearly top speed. Flying through the air with arms and legs flailing like those of a pupper being tossed away, she tried to curl up into a ball and roll off the impact of her crash, like every good rider learned from an early age, but it all happened so quickly, and the only result of her stunt was that the princess twisted her right leg painfully, before the crash beat the air out of her lungs.
For a moment the world went even darker, but then the flight instinct kicked in yet again.
A foolish, maybe even pathetic act, she tried to scramble to her feet and run, but the leg would not bear her weight for now, just sent her falling to her knees again, where she still tried to scramble away, even though Vortigern must have caught up with her until now.
Her eyes were burning with uncried tears of anguish and her whole body was aching, but still she couldn't give up. If anything, Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha was stubborn. |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 21, 2011 15:29:14 GMT -5
Night was now falling in rapidly and it magnified the anxiety in Yassia by at least four times. Night was the time of the ruthless of heart and those too afraid to attack in daylight. Night could see double the crimes than daylight could, and not only human dangers were to be feared. Wild animals roamed especially any forests and as Yassia was now coming near one, she highly debated staying outside for the night. What good could come out of riding on? Soon it would be too dark to see a way and her horse could trip and break its leg – now where would she be without it then? She might have enough money with her to buy at least a halfway suitable new one, but that would draw attention to her persona, and attention was the last thing she needed.
On the other hand, travelling by night also minimized her chances of being picked out by the wrong people. It was a tough choice. Yassia had never been one to be easily scared, but she mostly had spent the nights behind the secure walls of Ailantha’s castle or securly in the company of her half brother Mircea, who would have taken her out for an adventure night ride. This however, this was different. Very different ideed, and the darker it got, the more the fear crept into Yassia’s heart.
Now every tree and brush did not only seem to have eyes, but hands as well which seemed to reach for her, wanting to hold her back. As hard as they had tried to maintain peace with Soleria over the past couple of years, this could very well be considered enemy territory. Everyone besides a very far away uncle in Camelot now seemed to be Yassia’s enemy…
Suddenly her horse seemed to catch on a whiff in the distance, as it began to neigh and snort uneasily. Yassia gripped the reins tighter and peeked out into the darkness, for now unable to make out any movement. Her other hand moved slowly to the dagger at her side, the only weapon she possessed apart from one herbal knife and a throwing knife in her left boot. None of these could be of much use should she really be faced with difficulties, but for the moment her horse seemed to have alarmed her for nothing.
“Calla, vell rossí!1” she chided the mare with a little laugh to ease the tension that had built up inside her – just when she saw him.
He had materialized from the shadows, as if he had been one with them, silent and invisible. Shocked by his sudden appearance, the princess jerked the reins which made her horse rear up in protest. It might have even looked threatening, but it all had been born out of sheer fear and shock. It was too dark to make out specific features right away, but the moon provided a dim light and she would have – sadly enough – recognized his voice under a few hundred at least. Vortigern!
And by the tone of his voice and what he had said, it was clear he had recognized her at once, might have even waited for her like she had feared.
”That was the intention”, she replied with a firm voice, overplaying her fear by sheer practise, steeled in court live as she was.
Then, without so much as a coherent thought or clear decision, more fuelled by instinct than anything, she suddenly kicked her mare in the flanks to make her speed forwards. Surely he was not on his own, and she might not come far, but she had to at least try and make a run for it!
1:"Shut up, old nag!" |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 21, 2011 14:23:26 GMT -5
Stealthy and invisible… stealthy… invisible… and fast! Those were the words most on Yassia’s mind and vocabulary at the moment. With leaving Ailanthan borders behind unnoticed the struggle didn’t end, it only just began! Who knew how many miles lay between her and the canal shore she had to reach to cross over to Albion and eventually reach beautiful Camelot? Her ideas were sketchy at best, although she had listened to her mother’s stories, telling her of her troublesome way towards Ailantha in vivid detail. Yassia knew she had to travel northeast and pass through a few kingdoms until she would reach Camelot in two months, if she was lucky and didn’t get lost. Two months of travel… that seemed endless! And the road she had to take was far from easy, bandits could ambush you everywhere and then there was that ‘little’ detail of her actually fleeing from her uncle Guifré’s grasp. He would move heaven and hell to get her back and let her dance to his tunes, there was no doubt of it.
Or… the thought also had crossed Yassia’s mind, he would see this as an opportunity to silently and inconspiciously get rid of her. Send men after her not to catch her but to kill her… or alarm other kingdoms on the way to do the dirty work for him…
Right now she had crossed the borders of just such a candidate, and even if it wasn’t for this very immanent reason to be afraid, the sheer name of Soleria would send Yassia shiver every time it was mentioned or just thought.
Soleria… this had been where her brother Raúl and her mother had been killed, on this very road on their way back to Ailantha after making a courtesy visit. It had been maraudering mercenaries and the old king of Soleria had done anything in his power to make amends. Still, Yassia couldn’t quite shake off the horror that was now irrevocably connected with this kingdom’s name. Even more so, as another person of Soleria, the old and ill king’s son, was not of a material to be remembered fondly.
No, Yassia did definitely not to think of HIM now, Vortigern, from all she had come to know a heartless and ruthless man, only looking out for his own gain and far too fond of violence to hold his peace for long.
She was riding all alone through his country now, dressed in the most common clothes she could muster, hoping to slip through his ever grasping fingers. Only three days of laying low and hoping for the best… she could do that! If she believed in only half of the stories brought to you by travelors, the worst was yet to come anyway…
Still, you didn’t need a whole bunch of imagination under this circumstances to suspect every tree and every underbrush to have eyes… She had left the wide Ailanthan plains where you could see any ambush from miles away behind… now came hills and forests… practically waiting for her to go blindly into a trap. |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Aug 5, 2011 16:31:39 GMT -5
Only a little later Yassia realized she had not really answered Arthur’s valid question of what she was doing in Camelot as well. She had heard him asking, but his further words had simply crowded out this question and then her brain had stopped working altogether. Now it slowly took up its work again, but the princess still found it hard to really believe what she had heard. She had had a run-in with the Crown Prince of the very same country she had been searching for all along, and in a crazy adventure at that! Both had been too busy to stay alive to exchange more than first names, and in the end it had not mattered anyway. Yassia had still been keen to keep up pretenses, mask her royal background to not get into even more trouble than she had had already. And in the short time she had come to know him, Yassia already had come to realize Arthur was no one to make a fuss. He would not thumb his rank if it wasn’t necessary, and so they simply had played parts in a comical tale.
Just that the incident was not only comical but also very unfortunate. If she looked back now, much could have been spared the Princess had she known of Arthur’s true identity. She could have travelled there directly, protected by him and not constantly losing her way. Frustrating, to say in the least, but it was never good to dwell on ‘would-have-been’s. If Arthur could not have helped her in the past, he might still aid in securing her future. But for that he needed to know the truth first, which brought her back to replying to his question already!
“Camelot was my destination all along”, she confessed with a little sheepish laugh. “I came here in search of my uncle. You might very well know him: Sir Kay of Wolvesey.”
There was no doubt as Crown Prince Arthur would know one of the knights of Camelot, but she was curious as to what he would think of him. For all she had already found out her uncle was some kind of a chatoyant character. He could be gruff and even slightly shady in some of the things he did, but he also was a very loyal man and would fight for the Pendragons to his last breath. He might not be a man to be well-liked by everyone, but he was surely respected.
“When we first met I didn’t give you my full name as well”, she continued, preparing for the revelation that would surely puzzle him even more, if not even shock him to the core. “I am not a normal herb woman, as you might already have guessed. My full name is Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha, I am Crown Princess and designated Queen to the southern continental kingdom of Ailantha.”
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Jul 11, 2011 4:32:20 GMT -5
When the man said he and his men were from Landgraben, Yassia couldn’t have been more surprised. She had passed through this beautiful country on her way to Camelot, still in Mircea’s company and it seemed ages ago. They even had found shelter in Landgraben’s castle for a night, while it’s lord, the King Amalric Maulesel had been away, so she had never met him. Also none of the other names this Sir Münche introduced meant anything to the young princess, but it was still odd to be reminded of a time like that, when things still had been more or less like they should be.
But Yassia pushed all melancholy aside and also didn’t comment on her knowledge of this country yet, that would all come later should any casual conversation be in order. For now it was her task to guide this men to a dry shelter safely and even though she normally didn’t take orders from anyone, she didn’t mind this time. It was a friendly turn, nothing more, Hyld would never assume she had some sort of hold over Yassia.
Sir Münche was silent as they walked through the rain, apart from minor comments that seemed more directed towards his wet attire he wanted to get rid off than to anything his manservant now started to explain. Yassia listened politely, cocking her head like a sparrow which sadly made the rain run straight over her face like a little creek. Every once in a while she would bite her lip to keep from chuckling when the struggling Sir Münche would grunt something extraordinarily angry, which made it all the more hilarious. But it was highly uncourtly to laugh at someone else’s misfortune, so she tried to stay composed, concentrating on the story about the horses instead.
“I am very sorry for all your misfortunes, Sirs, very sorry indeed. I can only agree, I am not used to so much rain myself, but I guess there are people born to it.”
The her counterpart was called back to help his master with his soaked armor and when Yassia saw they were halting for a bit, she too turned around and waited while the rain poured down on her. Meanwhile the fabric of her richly adorned dress had soaked full of water as well, was heavy and damp, and to make it even more uncomfortable, now clad to her slender frame in a very showing manner. Turning a bit to the side while the men were talking, she tried to smoothen the dress and pry it away from her legs where it was sticking most unbefittingly. The servant apparently had been given a task, because now it was Sir Münche walking forward to fall in line with her. A little silence ensued, awkward on Yassia’s part as she just didn’t know what to say and keep up befitting appearances at the same time. She could not adjust her dress in front of his eyes of course, so she just hoped it would not look too scandalous.
"Do you mind leading me back to that celebration after my armor is removed? One of my men is no longer with us, and I'm afraid he likes these sorts of things," Sir Münche said, and Yassia nodded, glad he had been the first to break the ice.
“Of course, Sir, I will do so as soon as I have changed my clothes as well. Differing from common expectations, that will not take so long.” She added with a little self-humorous jibe.
“Oh and, just to make sure: If you are from Landgraben, you must be a subject to King Amalric Maulesel, right? I passed through his land on my journey here and even spent a night in his beautiful castle, though he himself was not present.”
She had politely circumvented the comment about his young and adventuresome follower, it was not a very seemly thing to talk about, and even if he had been slandering the man first, it was not for her to add to this repoval. Oh yes, Yassia was always very firm on manners, they could help you through many delicate situations. |
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Post by Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha on Jun 24, 2011 9:10:02 GMT -5
The pain of her feet and the exhaustion in general were a very tempting background to lull herself into some kind of trance, at least for a moment. And so Yassia thought she had really fallen asleep for a little when she heard the soft thudding of hooves on the dusty road and looked up to see who was approaching. This… ethereal being, hair so fair it was almost white sitting on an equally fair horse, both in a motion so graceful that it just couldn’t be from this world – it had to be a figment of her exhausted imagination, the dream of a fairy, a caring being that would help her through her misery. She couldn’t be awake, this could not be really happening…
And yet it seemed to be just that. Real. Yassia was still miserable, tired and hurting, and in a dream you never felt pain. But if this woman, who didn’t look older than fifteen due to her miniscule build, wasn’t a fada from the Otherworld, who was she? Yassia’s mother had told her many stories when she was a little girl, about Albion and Camelot especially, where the lines between the Fairy World, Avalon, and the world of the mortal beings were never as strictly drawn as elsewhere. She had sometimes sung a song to her before bedtime, about a Camelotian Knight who rode out in the night and met a fairy, and instantly both fell in love with each other… How peculiar that just by seeing this woman the long since forgotten words of the song were drawn back to the surface…
“A magical fairy was looking at him, through starry eyes of a beautiful green, he fell in love like never before… despite the rules they still met every night, he took the horse and she crossed the line… a secret love always hidden behind, building their world with the beats of their hearts…”
But of course such times seemed long since gone, with all magic banished from Camelot, and just by being here, worn out and hurting as she was, Yassia didn’t find it hard to believe that magical times were irrevocably over. And still, there was this mysterious woman who now even addressed Yassia with a melodious voice. “You should not be on the road by yourself!”
She didn’t approach, only sat there on her beautiful horse, probably waiting for Yassia to give a reaction first. With a twinge of bad conscience and awkwardness Yassia realized she must have been staring at this vision for quite some time now, and she angrily kicked her mind back into working gear. “I know I shouldn’t”, she called back and gave a weary shrug and a smile. “Alas I was given no choice as of late. And anyway”, she brushed back a streak of hair the wind kept blowing into her face, “you know, I could say the same to you, couldn’t I?”
Alright, this woman had a horse, but she didn’t look like she did belong on this road either, though Yassia had no clue where exactly she would place her other than in stories and songs. If she couldn’t get due rest and better feet to walk on, at least life had chosen to provide her with ample entertainment. |
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