Winter Wonder (Phrost|Open)

[Nayeli]

( LEILANI RICHARDS )

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The winter day was beautiful, I could not believe how beautiful it was. I could feel the cold air reaching my body with ease as I lifted my head up. My skin was a light tan from my travels and my hair cascaded down my back like a water fall, rippling as I moved. I had pulled some back and my small, delicate crown set atop my head. Nothing major about my crown, it just showed my royalty and I thought it was pretty. It was just a silver band that set around my forehead, unlike my sister’s crown, which held a few diamonds in it and glimmered even in the dimmest of light. I shock my head slightly at the thought, she barely wore it, not even to the party the night before. I shock my head slightly and walked on out into the court yard, the snow littered the ground again, which was nice to see. The servants had cleaned the area the day before, so it was clean for the party.

My dress was made of thick wool, keeping my body warm as I moved in the cold air. It was a deep maroon color, the sleeves going down my arm and even going down my fingers, keeping my fingers warm from the cold as well. I wore a black, wool cloak as well, one of the many gifts my sister had given me during a feast we had a few weeks back. I loved it, the beauty of it. I had gotten many things for Awiti, showing how much I cared for her, but what she gave me… It was beyond beautiful. I wore a necklace, made of animal hide and held a very pretty rock. It was not a gem, just a colored rock she had found on the court yard path weeks prior. She was a wonderful artist with her hands, for such a young age, I did not understand slavery and did not care to.

I finally set down on the ground under a large oak tree and let out a breath, the mist made by my breath was very funny looking and I did it again. I could not help but find everything beautiful this time of year. After a moment, I thought I heard someone walking and turned to see Sean coming, a smile gracing my lips and I stood to great him.

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[phrostphyre]

Sean moved with a grace that belied his bulk. Sword at his side and ever ready to leap to the defense of his king’s niece, Sean wished that he was not about to have the conversation about to take place. Leilani Richards, head diplomat of King Azuan Angrenost had decided that yes, Sean was in fact suitable to be her beau. Sean, her main bodyguard, had decided that while yes, he was Hibernian royalty, matrilineal, he could not spend time romancing Leilani. It was not possible. He motioned her to sit back down, and then sat next to her. His woolen plaid kept him from the bite of winter. He sighed, then drew his dirk and examined it. The sapphire in the pommel shined in the weak sunlight, throwing bits of blue light onto Sean’s armor and plaid. He held it loosely in one hand, and sighed again.

”Milady, you cannot love me. I am your guard first, a soldier second, and possibly a friend third. Were your father or uncle to know what you feel for me, my head would be forfeit, and quite possibly yours, as well. My prime duty is to keep you from harm. To do that, my life is expendable. The strength of my sword and the indomitableness of my shield are yours. My life, is yours, whatever it’s worth, which is not much. Do you see now, why you cannot want for us to be together? I value my life far too much than to end on a guillotine or gallows, dancing the dead man’s jig.”

[Nayeli]

( LEILANI RICHARDS )

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He beckoned me to sit back down, though slightly confused, I did. I did not mind listening to others, unlike my sister, Nayeli. She was not someone who took orders well, which was why she was in such high powers in the first place. As he came over, I looked at his outfit, though, not many men would wear it, he pulled it off very nicely. She pulled her cloak a little, a bit of skin showing had been caught by the winter breeze, causing her some slight discomfort. She was not one who liked the cold unless she was covered from it. She heard him sigh and looked back at him, worried and about to say something.

”Milady, you cannot love me.” I was surprised at his word, not because he spoke them but because he brought it up. I had con confessed anything onto him, though, I did like him. ”I am your guard first, a soldier second, and possibly a friend third.” It was something I understood about the guards within’ the land. I looked at him, my hands were folded on my lap and I waited. ”Were your father or uncle to know what you feel for me, my head would be forfeit, and quite possibly yours, as well.” This made me smile. It was funny how he had been around so long and had yet to learn of my hatred towards me father, that no only I held, but most of my family and also the way my uncle forced every guard to try and woo my sister and I. ”My prime duty is to keep you from harm. To do that, my life is expendable.” I my eyes, no life was expendable… People would cry over such a thing and I hated it most of all. ”The strength of my sword and the indomitableness of my shield are yours. My life, is yours, whatever it’s worth, which is not much. Do you see now, why you cannot want for us to be together? I value my life far too much than to end on a guillotine or gallows, dancing the dead man’s jig.”

I stood now, walking away before turning back to him, my face held a small smile on it and I allowed my emerald eyes to lay on his. Though many believed me to be half elf, last I checked, I was full human. ”Sean… I know what your duties is, that is why I do not force myself upon, I let you do your job… My fleeting glances should not at all worry you.” I said, walking slightly to my left, still facing him. ”And, with how long you have been around, the only time I have been near my worthless father is last night at the party and the only reason he was there is because my uncle asked him to be there… No one in my family even looks at that man or see honor on him.” I said, looking him dead in the eyes, the malice towards my father could be heard in my voice and seen written in my eyes. ”And I am surprised my uncle has yet to come to you… Each guard who had looked after me as been ordered by my uncle to not only protect me, but to woo may… Maybe the reason he has not is because he does not want love to be forced any more, though he knows little of it.”

[/color] I did not hate my uncle, but he had no children and only treated his Neices and Nephew with such love that I did not quite understand where it came from. ”I know of your duty and you are the first who has done such within’ my presence and probably the reason I have come to admire you. But I want you to know something, no life is Expendable, when you go, though you disbelieve it, others will mourn for you and since you are the only guard I have actually liked, you are looking at her.” I said, turning and walking away slightly, though not far. I turned back to him.

”Do you duty, that is all I want… Sure, I like you… You make me smile, your handsome, beyond so then any upon this land, and you actually have dignity that no other possess, but you have a Duty and it is why I have kept myself from trying to gain your attention.” I said, looking at him from where I stood. My cloak touched the ground and I looked down at the snow. I knelt down and picked the snow up, looking at it in my cloaked hand as it melted. ”You know… They say only children play in snow… Then I guess people call me a child behind my back.” I smiled, tossing the snow up high into the air, looking back at him. ”Sean, I do not want you distracted from your duty, that comes first in this game of Royalty and Protecting Royalty… Why do you think I am yet to be married?” At seventeen, I should have been wed and should have had children, but I was not.
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[phrostphyre]

By the Goddess, that was a terrible post.

”Aye, milady. Duty is about all I have left. Duty, honor, and my sword. I have no country, save this adopted one. And even then, has she really adopted me as her own? I doubt that. A mentor of mine once said that Duty, Honor, and Country were the most important things a man could have. I have two out three, but what is a Hibernian Ulsterman without knowing he is a Hibernian Ulsterman? I left that country, wanted for treason to the High King. How is it treason if my grandfather is the rightful High King? I saw him last with an arrow sticking out his neck, as he grinned and continued to fight. My father I last saw with two arrows sticking out of his chain mail, fighting to die by my grandfather’s side. Oh, well, I suppose had I not been riding to save my mother or unborn sister I would have died on the field by their side, and never made it here. As it was, I arrived too late to save Mam or my sister, and now here I am. Life is like that, though.” Sean stood and began pacing, not looking at Leilani. He unpinned his plaid from his kilt and tossed it at Leilani as he passed. Now goose bumps showed on his arms, but he continued pacing. Nothing to do, but keep on living. A sound broke him from his thoughts. It was stones being stepped on. Sean's sword was drawn from its sheath with a metallic rasp, and his seax followed. Holding the seax point down over his head in his left arm, Sean moved forward. Sword point leading the way, he moved to an evergreen bush. His sword flashed as the bush rustled, and a small boy of about twelve was lifted out of it, Sean's sword at his throat.

"And what would a lad of twelve be doing eavesdropping on Her Ladyship Leilani, hm? And not only her ladyship, but myself? She might be inclined to mercy, but I am not. Tell me boy, what's your name?" Sean resheathed his seax, but kept his sword out and making a circle in front of the boy's face. Scared, the boy almost choked on his own name, but it came out. "Ian, m'lord. Ian MacDonella, son of Ian James MacDonella and Mary." Sean nodded, then sheathed his sword. He spoke in Gaelic, the harsh choking sounds flowing between the two almost as quickly as thought. After a moment of conversing, Sean knelt, hugged the boy, and picked him up.

"Milady Leilani, let me introduce my second cousin's nephew's son, Ian."

[Nayeli]

( LEILANI RICHARDS )

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I looked at Sean for a moment. ”Aye, milady. Duty is about all I have left. Duty, honor, and my sword. I have no country, save this adopted one. And even then, has she really adopted me as her own?” I tilted my head. My country adopted many, it was those who is adopted who had to accept that. I held no doubt that Sean had been adopted by my own country and I watched him. ”I doubt that. A mentor of mine once said that Duty, Honor, and Country were the most important things a man could have. I have two out three, but what is a Hibernian Ulsterman without knowing he is a Hibernian Ulsterman? I left that country, wanted for treason to the High King. How is it treason if my grandfather is the rightful High King?” I nodded. Not only was he true royalty, but he was strong, handsome and I liked him a lot.

”I saw him last with an arrow sticking out his neck, as he grinned and continued to fight. My father I last saw with two arrows sticking out of his chain mail, fighting to die by my grandfather’s side. Oh, well, I suppose had I not been riding to save my mother or unborn sister I would have died on the field by their side, and never made it here. As it was, I arrived too late to save Mam or my sister, and now here I am. Life is like that, though.” I hated fighting more then anything, looking away slightly. I watched as he removed his plaid, leaving a normal kilt on, solid color it seemed and caught it as it was thrown. I looked at him for a moment and I turned to the sound of something. I watched my protector and saw a twelve year old boy standing for him. I was about to stop him when I stopped at his voice.

”And what would a lad of twelve be doing eavesdropping on Her Ladyship Leilani, hm? And not only her ladyship, but myself? She might be inclined to mercy, but I am not. Tell me boy, what's your name?" I looked at Sean for a moment, wondering why he was being so harsh on the boy, but then I did know that even children could use weapons and sometimes, better then an adult.

”Ian, m'lord. Ian MacDonella, son of Ian James MacDonella and Mary." I listened as they poke in harsh tones for a moment and then smiled as Sean hugged and picked the boy up, turning to look at me. ”Milady Leilani, let me introduce my second cousin's nephew's son, Ian." I walked over to them and held out my hand to shake his own. ”Hello Ian, it is a pleasure to meet the cousin of my protector.”

[/color] I said, smiling at Sean for a moment, the plaid of his kilt on my shoulder. My emerald eyes then looked to the boy. ”Why don’t we go in and find some lunch, all of us.”[/color] I did not mind sharing my meals and I am sure that Sean would want to spend time with the boy.
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[phrostphyre]

”Hallo, ma’am. Ian took the offered hand and shook it with his own sticky paw, then wrapped it around the shelter Sean’s neck offered in the face of female royalty. Sean’s eyes glinted softly as he took the lad’s arms from around his neck and sent him running to bring him his dirk. The boy returned bearing the dirk his father had given him, kilt flying around his knees as he ran. Sean took it and drew the blade from its sheath. He held the steel up to the light and marveled at the cairngorm stone in the hilt, then resheathed it and handed it back to the boy. ”I need a lad to help me with my duties. I’m highly noticeable, and that’s good. The visible deterrent works more often than actual fighting. However, a Hibernian warrior such as you should go armed, aye? Ian, I offer you a place as my man. Carry your dirk, and be my eyes and ears where I cannot go, such as the kitchens. I’ll pay you a crown a week, with extra money for the more valuable information gathered.” Sean held open a door for Leilani and Ian, before ushering in a stray mouser cat. It hissed at him, then took off running. Grinning, Sean went inside himself. They had entered a side dining room to be used by servants. Sean steered Leilani and Ian to a table, and then went for food.

Sean returned with three platters. Each had a glass of drink, a roll, meat, and cheese. He set them down in front of Ian and Leilani before tearing a hunk out of his roll. He chewed, swallowed, and then spoke once more. ”Hibernia is a land of danger and near constant low-level clan warfare. Due to this, the way we fight is highly ritualized and revolves around single combat. However, Alagaësian warfare is sporadic, deadly, and a meat grinder. I think I prefer Gaelic warfare to the kind here. However, there’s more land here, and a man can take to the Spine as well as Hibernian mountains…. Mountains have always been havens for Gaels.”