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Post by Jordyn on Jan 31, 2019 18:06:21 GMT -5
Closed Thread for Emily and King Duncan. Takes place Three Years before the Plague in year 654 (2008 mt)
Emily took a deep breath as she hid behind a corner watching a couple knights talk. They were standing in the way of her and the door. A breath of fresh air.
Part of her hoped that Duncan didn't know about this. She wasn't running away, she told herself. She was just going to the village. After that, it was fair game. The only thing is, she didn't tell anyone about the escape plan. She smiled and shrugged to herself. She just had to get past the knights and into the courtyard.
When the knights had moved away, she put her hood up and quietly moved toward the door. 5...4...3...2...
She paused when someone put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, I know...I know, 'Let's go see Duncan.' Take me to him."
A few moments later, she sat in the King's office, sitting awkwardly in a chair, on leg over an armrest. "I was just going to the village. To see kids my age. I don't see what's wrong with that."
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 1, 2019 21:40:19 GMT -5
A few moments later, she sat in the King's office, sitting awkwardly in a chair, on leg over an armrest. "I was just going to the village. To see kids my age. I don't see what's wrong with that."
Duncan sat behind the huge oaken desk studying some document when Emily had been brought in and was directed to sit in the chair across from him by the palace guard. Without looking up he said thank you to the guard and dismissed him . He said to leave the door open. He continued to study the document for a little while longer then he closed the book with the page ribbon neatly trailing out the bottom. He looked up with an accepting hint of a smile as he engaged the young lady before him. He looked right into her eyes with that penatrating blue eyed gaze, the one that either demanded you to look directly back if you had the courage or look away if you did not.
"First of all, put your leg down and sit like a Lady, you are not in a tavern, you sit before the King. I realize from your behavior right now that means little to you, but I would like you to show some respect for me as I would like to do the same for you." The kings tone was even and unhurried and it had no trace of anger in it at all.
"Emily, How old are you now?"
"What is your position here in the castle?"
He seemed as though he did not hear her first statement or was it an explanation? He then looked at her and awaited for the compliance to his request and the answers to his questions. He knew the answers it seemed, or he should have, but he asked them none the less.
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Post by Jordyn on Feb 1, 2019 21:49:57 GMT -5
"First of all, put your leg down and sit like a Lady, you are not in a tavern, you sit before the King. I realize from your behavior right now that means little to you, but I would like you to show some respect for me as I would like to do the same for you."
Emily raised an eyebrow at him, her coal black eyes searching his for a moment before she seemed to roll them and move to "sit like a Lady." "The same respect you showed my father?" she muttered under her breath and looked around the office. She glanced down at the desk, then her gaze met his once more - defiant, but unafraid to speak her mind.
"Emily, How old are you now?"
"What is your position here in the castle?"
Emily paused, looking confused by the questions. "17. And I don't think I have one," she said, refusing to use the words, my lord. She was angry, confused even. This hadn't been the first time she'd been brought here. Why was he asking those questions? Didn't he know?
"Why do you ask? Do you think I'm going to run away to the Mountains like my father did? Why can't I leave the castle? Why can't I explore? I feel like I'm trapped here and I don't understand why! Do you not trust me? Did I do something wrong?"
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 1, 2019 22:55:39 GMT -5
"Why do you ask? Do you think I'm going to run away to the Mountains like my father did? Why can't I leave the castle? Why can't I explore? I feel like I'm trapped here and I don't understand why! Do you not trust me? Did I do something wrong?"
Emily, I ask because your first question is well founded. There is nothing wrong with your going to town and seeing other people your age. If I or my staff has made you feel like a prisoner here, then we have done you a disservice. As for my second question, I asked because I had thought that Commandant Crowley had work for you to do and if you are not fulfilled in your duties here I would want to ask you what it is you would like to do with your time? It is not enough to be cared for and given the necessities of existence, you forget I grew up in a palace too. I found things to occupy me for much of the time, but there came a time, when I, as you do now started to question were "I fit in" to this world. I also used rebellion as a means to command my father's attention. You see his attention was altogether fixed on the battling Barons and the dissension that was rife in the Fife of Gorland. The history of which has nothing to do with you, and yet my respect for one who opposed me as an enemy, I do feel is being shown by your presence here now. Do I trust you? Well trust is not something that can be given, it is a commodity that must be earned and to do so one must be given opportunities to make choices that would reflect that trustworthiness. You have not as of yet done anything terribly wrong that any other child would not have done in your situation, but you have also not done anything that would show me or my staff and subjects what you can do. So... You are seventeen years old, you deserve that chance, you are not a child, you are a young woman. a very lovely and some would say mysterious woman, whom I suspect many of the young courtiers and fellows of the kingdom would be very interested in getting to know. As that is the case one of our first occasions to build that trust would be in the way you comport yourself as a member of my household and denizen of the Castle of Araluen. So I think we have a few things to do that can help us to move forward. The most important of which is very much your responsibility, that is to find what it is you want from life. The second is determine how you might go about making that happen. My own Daughter had many of the same issues and I set before her the same goals. The other thing is initiated by me but requires your participation. I must make the time and set the environment for you to feel as though you can come to me...with respect, and feel that we can discuss things that concern you as two adults. if you wish to do something that has not here-to-for been explored, then come to me, state you opinions, give me your reasoning for it, then we will determine how to make sure it can be done safely. Or if I have good reason to tell you not to do thus and such, I give you my reasoning too. Not just say to you "I said so and I am king so you must listen." My daughter was told as was I at around your age that defiance was the act of a person who had not the courage for discourse, or the understanding that they are not being listened to."
King Duncan had risen from his seat during this dialog and moved around to sit on the edge of the front of his desk.
I have a request of you and an idea if you would listen to them?
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Post by Jordyn on Feb 1, 2019 23:13:00 GMT -5
Emily, I ask because your first question is well founded. There is nothing wrong with your going to town and seeing other people your age. If I or my staff has made you feel like a prisoner here, then we have done you a disservice. As for my second question, I asked because I had thought that Commandant Crowley had work for you to do and if you are not fulfilled in your duties here I would want to ask you what it is you would like to do with your time? It is not enough to be cared for and given the necessities of existence, you forget I grew up in a palace too. I found things to occupy me for much of the time, but there came a time, when I, as you do now started to question were "I fit in" to this world. I also used rebellion as a means to command my father's attention. You see his attention was altogether fixed on the battling Barons and the dissension that was rife in the Fife of Gorland. The history of which has nothing to do with you, and yet my respect for one who opposed me as an enemy, I do feel is being shown by your presence here now.
Do I trust you?
Well trust is not something that can be given, it is a commodity that must be earned and to do so one muse be given opportunities to make choices that would reflect that trustworthiness. You have not as of yet done anything terribly wrong that any other child would not have done in your situation, but you have also not done anything that would show me or my staff and subjects what you can do. So... You are seventeen years old, you deserve that chance, you are not a child, you are a young woman. a very lovely and some would say mysterious woman, whom I suspect many of the young courtiers and fellows of the kingdom would be very interested in getting to know. As that is the case one of our first occasions to build that trust would be in the way you comport yourself as a member of my household and denizen of the Castle of Araluen. So I think we have a few things to do that can help us to move forward. The most important of which is very much your responsibility, that is to find what it is you want from life. The second is determine how you might go about making that happen. My own Daughter had many of the same issues and I set before her the same goals. The other thing is initiated by me but requires your participation. I must make the time and set the environment for you to feel as though you can come to me...with respect, and feel that we can discuss things that concern you as two adults. if you wish to do something that has not here to for been explored, then come to me state you opinions give me your reasoning for it then we will determine how to make sure it can be done safely. Or if I have good reason to tell you not to do thus and such I give you my reasoning too. Not just say to you I said so and I am king so you must listen. My daughter was told as was I at around your age that defiance was the act of a person who had not the courage for discourse or the understanding that they are not being listened to."
Emily had stood up during his talk and had moved a little ways away from the King, slightly uncomfortable by his questions. She felt disarmed by his words, and, suddenly, her anger and sadness was released in a flood of words.
"You don't understand, do you? You may have grown up in a palace, but you don't understand what it's like to lose the only person who ever stood up for you. You don't understand how it feels to lose your mother at a young age! I had to fight, even in my own home to be seen as an equal. To be noticed as someone worth something! You were the Prince. You're the King now. My own father thought I was a monster, that I would never be equal to him because of who my mother was. He had her killed for protecting me. He...He..." There was a crack in her voice now, and she trembled with fear and anger. "He did a lot of terrible things, but he was my father. And he was the only one I had."
"And then I get saved. I come here, thinking that maybe this will be a safe place for me. Maybe...Maybe I'll have a family, with a new mom and dad and maybe I won't have to fight so much. But then it all went to hell because I felt like you thought I was just like my father. Like you looked at me and the only thing you saw was Morgarath. Maybe I was paranoid. Maybe it was because I was only a child. But I never thought I belonged. I always thought of myself as the Rebel's daughter, a girl who would never amount to anything besides being a pawn for my father."
She took a deep breath and wiped her cheeks, that were suddenly dampened by tears. "I never thought I was allowed to just be me...to grow up and have a normal childhood. I...I never wanted it to be this way...I never asked to be born!"
She paused and allowed him to speak again.
I have a request of you and an idea if you would listen to them?
She nodded, not trusting her voice to not tremble.
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 2, 2019 0:19:52 GMT -5
"What you have thought in your mind and believed in your heart I can understand, I lost my mother before her time as well and it is not easy when that happens, no less by the hand of the man you find out is your father. It may surprise you to know that your father was not always as he turned out to be. He was a very respected Knight and Baron and was a trusted member of this court for more years than he was not. He had some very admirable qualities and I do not hate him for what he became, I was actually quite sad that we could not reconcile our differences. But Emily you are wrong about the way I feel about you. I believe that everyone has the ability to decide what path they will choose in life no matter what their parents chose in theirs. I do not think you a monster, nay, I think you were a very strong and courageous girl and I saw in you the good things of both your parents while doing my best to guide you away from the dark and difficult choices your Father may have led you towards. I hear what you are telling me now but I ask you have you ever heard me say any of those things to you? If my actions led you to believe those things then I am truly sorry and must not have understood your pain. But I say let us make a new start and a new deal together. Which returns me to my request and idea. I have planned a bit of Rustication time for myself. I often do this time of year, to clear my head and escape some of the smaller demands upon my time. I normally go to the place I went as a boy to get away. And I do not normally go in the trappings of a King but in a bit more modest guise. I would like to invite you...no ask you if you would accompany me. You may continue to muse on the suggestions I have put to you about your place in the world but I also think you may find some of your answers on the road. If you chose to accompany me, I will set in motion a festivity for when we return. I think we need to introduce you to the kingdom, I suggest a Ball as big or as intimate as you like but I want the Kingdom to know you and understand what ever it is you have chosen or will chose to be. Of course it is to be foremost for your peers and secondarily for the rest of the populace. What do you think? will you brave the road and the Kingdom with me?
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Post by Jordyn on Feb 2, 2019 21:07:24 GMT -5
But I say let us make a new start and a new deal together. Which returns me to my request and idea. I have planned a bit of Rustication time for myself. I often do this time of year, to clear my head and escape some of the smaller demands upon my time. I normally go to the place I went as a boy to get away. And I do not normally go in the trappings of a King but in a bit more modest guise. I would like to invite you...no ask you if you would accompany me. You may continue to muse on the suggestions I have put to you about your place in the world but I also think you may find some of your answers on the road. If you chose to accompany me, I will set in motion a festivity for when we return. I think we need to introduce you to the kingdom, I suggest a Ball as big or as intimate as you like but I want the Kingdom to know you and understand what ever it is you have chosen or will chose to be. Of course it is to be foremost for your peers and secondarily for the rest of the populace. What do you think? will you brave the road and the Kingdom with me?
Emily paused to consider, then smiled and nodded. "That actually sounds like fun, My Lord," she said. "When were you planning on leaving, and what do I need to bring? Other than clothes, of course."
There was another slight pause. "Are you sure a Ball would be a good thing?" she asked, looking slightly embarrassed.
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 3, 2019 18:18:09 GMT -5
"That actually sounds like fun, My Lord," she said. "When were you planning on leaving, and what do I need to bring? Other than clothes, of course."
There was another slight pause. "Are you sure a Ball would be a good thing?" she asked, looking slightly embarrassed.
"I plan on leaving within the week, I will have to tell my advisors to expect another person in my party, not that I feel this will present a problem but in fairness to them to make proper provision and accommodations. Think of this excursion as if you were preparing for a mission with the Ranger Corps. ready yourself in the same way. your mount will be welcome if you don't have one yet I will make sure the royal stables provide something suitable for a ranger on the road." The King looked very pleased and despite his normally collected and formal demeanor, he seemed to have a bit of childlike glee in his eyes and a warmth in his voice that Emily was not used to hearing.
With that same new warmth he leaned over slightly toward her in a confidential tone and said, "Yes Emily, I think it a very good idea, I want your peers to know you for the special young lady that I know you are and in introducing you this way they will know and understand your value as I see it and perhaps how you will come to see it too."
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Post by Jordyn on Feb 3, 2019 22:00:20 GMT -5
Emily smiled and moved to go start getting ready to leave. She was excited about this, for the opportunity to get to know Duncan better.
Three weeks had passed since the talk in the King's office. Emily had gotten ready for the Ball and was shyly standing partly in the shadows, trying to find the courage to step out and talk to people.
And that's when Liam walked in. Emily felt her eyes widen slightly as she looked him up and down, a red blush growing on her cheeks. She quietly moved to Duncan, still looking at Liam. Her face was growing red, and there was a small smile that threatened to break through onto her cheeks.
"Do you know who he is?" she asked Duncan quietly, her gaze not leaving the stranger.
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 6, 2019 16:51:32 GMT -5
Three weeks had passed since the talk in the King's office. Emily had gotten ready for the Ball and was shyly standing partly in the shadows, trying to find the courage to step out and talk to people.
As she peered around the curtain she thought about courage, about nerve. Emily had no problem in an argument letting people know what she thought but it seemed being confident and conversing and negotiating was another story all together. Sometimes anger masks our fear to others while fueling the fear itself. The whole issue of courage seemed to be the very point of the trip North with the King...
Duncan sat astride one of the larger Ranger ponies his demeanor was as shaggy and informal as that of his mount.The hood of his Ranger cloak was pulled up on his head and did a good job of hiding his face. Saddlebags were packed on the back of his horse as well as on the horses of the two other Rangers, and the lone mount that was being held by none other than Crowley. The two larger Rangers were watching the other smaller ranger foot the stirrup of her own pony and swing up into the saddle.
When Crowley saw Emily come through the back gate of the royal stables, he looked up to the horsed riders and said, "Here she is right on time. Or close enough for this party. Good morning Ranger, nice of you to join us!" he said with a wink and a slight smirk forming on the side of his mouth that faced her. "Ranger Emily I would like you to meet Ranger Bunt formerly the Ranger of Greenfield, and his apprentice Sage. and also Ranger Doogan Treadwell, on special detachment from Araluen."
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 17, 2019 22:01:03 GMT -5
"Ranger Emily I would like you to meet Ranger Bunt formerly the Ranger of Greenfield, and his apprentice Sage. and also Ranger Doogan Treadwell, on special detachment from Araluen."
Sage struggled to get Acorn to stand still long enough to swing up into the saddle. She was very conscious of the eyes of her Mentor, Bunt, and the other 'ranger' watching her as they waited for the female ranger to join them. She shot Bunt a nervous smile as she adjusted her cloak to drape over her bedroll and tucked the corners under her knees. She studiously avoided looking at King Duncan. She was pretty nervous of going on a mission with the King and not sure how to act so as not to give away his identity.
She was about to ask Bunt if she should get her bow out yet when Emily appeared and Crowley introduced them. She smiled warmly at Emily. They were the same age and she hoped they would hit it off. It would be nice to have someone her age that didn't think she was a little crazy.
Acorn sidled sideways to try and snatch a mouthful of grass growing out of a shrub and Sage absent-mindedly corrected her pony who had obviously been taking ques from Bunt's Ranger Horse, LB, named Low Belly for her propensity to eat every chance she got.
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Post by Jordyn on Feb 24, 2019 21:56:38 GMT -5
Emily smiled and waved at the party as she drew closer, laughing lightly to herself hearing Crowley's words. "Aye! Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! Hope I haven't kept you waiting for too long."
She stepped closer to Dancer, her horse, and nodded a respectful greeting to the King. "Morning, My Lord! Can't say I'd ever expected to see you in a Ranger's cloak!"
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 25, 2019 18:13:12 GMT -5
She stepped closer to Dancer, her horse, and nodded a respectful greeting to the King. "Morning, My Lord! Can't say I'd ever expected to see you in a Ranger's cloak!"
"Uuuh...yes," Crowley addressed the whole group, but looked at Emily with a bit of frustration. "Rangers, I believe I introduced you to Ranger Doogan Treadwell And that is the last time he will be called anything else until you arrive at your destination, understood?" King Duncan looked over at Emily and winked with a slight smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. He put a finger up to the side of his nose and tapped it. (the universal sign that let his young ward in on the joke).
Crowley continued, " I have taken the liberty of making sure the Mission specific contents in your horses saddlebags have been equally distributed, otherwise what you have on your person and in your packs is what you have and all you can depend on to journey's end. Please take a moment and take a mental inventory to make sure you have every thing you need for a five day journey over road and through wilderness areas. The journey should take mo longer than three days but we have given you a healthy margin for weather or delay. You are headed North by North East, both Ranger Bunt and Ranger Doogan know the way, so make sure one of them is always in your sight Ladies. Farewell and have a safe journey!"
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 28, 2019 0:02:17 GMT -5
"Rangers, I believe I introduced you to Ranger Doogan Treadwell And that is the last time he will be called anything else until you arrive at your destination, understood?"
Sage couldn't resist baiting Crowley. "Not quite, Commandant. Are you saying we have to call him 'RangerDooganTreadwell' every time we address him? We can't say, 'Hey Doogan, watch out for that tree!' or 'Treadwell, don't tread on me'?" Sage could not quite keep the corners of her mouth from smirking slightly as she battled to keep a straight face and look like a proper bubble head. She winked at the King and then mouthed 'I'm sorry' when Crowley wasn't looking.
"Sage! Don't ya start that smart-mouthin' agin," Bunt warned. "Don't forgit, Girl, ya have yer Ranger trials coming up and Crowley tends ta come up with tha most ingenious ways of testing tha 'smartness' right out of 'pprentices." Bunt rubbed his stubbly jaw and shook his head. "It's gonna be a long, bloody ride..." he muttered under his breath. "Doogan, I 'pologize for my 'pprentice. She has a quirky sense o' humor."
Crowley continued, " I have taken the liberty of making sure the Mission specific contents in your horses saddlebags have been equally distributed, otherwise what you have on your person and in your packs is what you have and all you can depend on to journey's end. Please take a moment and take a mental inventory to make sure you have every thing you need for a five day journey over road and through wilderness areas. The journey should take mo longer than three days but we have given you a healthy margin for weather or delay. You are headed North by North East, both Ranger Bunt and Ranger Doogan know the way, so make sure one of them is always in your sight Ladies. Farewell and have a safe journey!"
Sage turned in her saddle and contemplated her bedroll, saddlebags and the backpack she was wearing under her ranger cloak. "I don't have everything, but that is only because RangerBuntLevinson," she smirked again, "said I could not bring all of my books and maps and-"
"Tha kitchen sink n tha neighbor's cats, etc. etc." Bunt finished for her. "Can we git going now?"
Sage laughed and turned to Emily, "Hi! I'm Sage." She held out her hand to Emily just as her pony, Acorn, decided to sidestep away. She nudged Acorn back close again. "Have you taken the trials yet? Are you a silver leaf or still a bronze?"
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Post by Jordyn on Jul 7, 2019 22:28:07 GMT -5
Sage laughed and turned to Emily, "Hi! I'm Sage." She held out her hand to Emily just as her pony, Acorn, decided to sidestep away. She nudged Acorn back close again. "Have you taken the trials yet? Are you a silver leaf or still a bronze?"
Emily reacted with a quiet surprise at Sage's seemingly welcome tone, and took the offered hand to shake it. "H-Hello..." She greeted softly, looking at Duncan---no, Doogan, she'd have to remember that---to check to see if this was alright. She was nervous, and though she tried not to show it, a glimmer of it shone in her eyes.
"Have I taken the trials yet?" She nodded. "I'm a silver leaf," she said, showing off the silver pendant. "Which one are you?" she asked, curiously. She patted Dancer's neck lightly, a small smile creeping its way onto her features.
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