Danae - 2000-01-11
driana could feel everyone's eyes on her as she watched her former dance partner retreat from the room at a hasty pace. She heard Deran say softly, "Mmm. It is getting late, isn't it?" Since he had just caught her yawning all she could do was nod and smile a bit sheepishly in an affirmative. The next words out of his mouth sent a shiver down her back. "Can I escort you to your rooms? Perhaps we shall even... take the long route?" At this she looked him straight in the eyes and her focus narrowed until all she could see was his face. While his wolf-like features might have been a little frightening to some, she was familiar to being with those who looked different than her own human form, having been all but raised under Rody's protection. Besides, there was something simply compelling about this man that she had never felt before. "Of course. I would appreciate your escort very much. Thank you." Although slightly flustered by the quiet in the room caused by every person holding their breath, straining to hear their entire conversation, she managed to put her arm in the one he had proffered. As they walked towards the huge redwood doors that would give them their escape she noticed Lucian's sudden notice of her departure. Just as he looked as if he were about to move towards them, perhaps with the intent of interception, she saw Diana crossing the room in his direction with an almost predatory grace and with this window of opportunity she all but pulled her escort through the door and into the hall where they would not be followed. "Now my Lord, what route would you have us take again?"...
Rody leaned against the wall in the shadows of the furthest corner from all the festivities. Although he had begun the night in a cheerful mood, Adriana's delight with her new guard, the male half anyway, was starting to wear on his nerves. The banquet had begun well enough, with Adriana being his typically charming table mate as always. As the night had worn on, and she had become more and more comfortable with Deran, however, she had begun to ignore him. It had put him in a sour mood. Once the food had been cleared away and the dancing had begun, he was in no shape to celebrate anything and so had retreated to the corner and watched. He had simply observed all night, the behavior of both of the Llowra and of Adriana. As the night had slowly worn on, he had begun to think about Adriana's behavior instead of simply feeling it. And the more he thought... the more worried he became. It was obvious that she had become attached to Deran very quickly and although he believed that it was no more than an innocent crush, he worried that if encouraged, it could turn into much more than that. He knew Adriana was not a silly girl, and was very mature for her age, but he still worried at what would happen if anything were allowed to develop. (What am I going to do once we are out on the road. It's not like I will be able to stop her from doing anything she wants. I am only her bodyguard, not her father. And she doesn't see me as anything more than a friend. I am going to have to speak with Lucian about this. Tonight. I can't let it wait until morning or I will never be able to get any sleep tonight.) As he thought about Lucian he automatically searched the crowd for his charge's beloved brother, who was more of a father figure than anyone else in Adriana's life. (The bastard couldn't even show up tonight to wish his daughter a farewell.) Rody had little or no respect for the Lord of the house who could treat his own daughter with such little care. His eyes found Lucian quickly in the crowded hall for he was one of three men who had not dressed festively in colorful garb that night. Himself, Deran and Lucian were the only ones in black, and he was only too painfully aware that of the two of them, Deran was far more striking. Just as he focused in on Lucian, his eyes whipped back to the pair that he had passed over just seconds before. Pure white next to all black. They made a beautifully matched set in the middle of the dance floor but the way Deran was looking at Adriana made him extremely uneasy. As he continued to watch them he saw Adriana put her arm in his. Before he realized what their intent was, they had waltzed through the doors of the great hall before Rody could do anything to stop them. Realizing that she was now gone for the night, he decided to have a word with Lucian. He began to approach the flushed young man who had obviously also noticed his sister's departure. He was so intent on reaching Lucian's side that he found himself almost knocking over another who had been headed in the same direction. As he caught the party-goer's arm to steady her, he realized that it was the other half of the Llowran team. The prettier half at that. He realized that she had been also headed in Lucian's direction and quickly backed up to give her the first opportunity to speak with him. "My pardon lady. I did not mean to get in your way. After you........"
Yvonne - 2000-01-12
"Deran smiled, feeling suddenly freed from the oppressive weight of people that had crowded him in the brightly lit Hall. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness outside, and he began slowly walking towards the orchards he could see at the crest of a distant hill. While he himself could walk all night and all day if he had to, Deran highly doubted that his charge could, but there was a nice stretch of garden between him and his goal. Enough greenery to distract him from his artificial surroundings.ow my Lord, what route would you have us take again?"
"The gardens. Your brother's tour left much to be desired."
Diana's prey was within reach when suddenly she was crashed into from one side. Leaping away, her teeth bared and her hands ready to fight, unique feline scent warned her to stop before she did any damage. It wouldn't do to damage the other bodyguard before they started. "My pardon lady. I did not mean to get in your way. After you........"
The growl that was aching to be freed in her throat was shoved down at the Felara's speech. How she hated crowds! There was no room to manoeuvre, no space to walk freely... Sighing internally she straightened the skin-tight leather bodice she wore and gave Rody a cool once over with her yellow eyes, coming out of her crouch as she did so.
"Appology accepted. In the future, do not sneak up on me so. I may not recognise you in time. But," a slow smile grew on her face, containing a little bit of of knowing, a little bit of mischief, and a whole bunch of allure. "I would be stupid not to realise that you too were going to speak with the esteemed Lord," she said, a husky growl almost manifest in the lower registers of her voice, "And since I wish to speak with him about our little journey together, it would be wise if you joined me, no?"
Smoothly she slipped her hand around Rody's elbow and without waiting for an answer, led him off towards where the Lord -- a drunken Lord, or so her nose told her -- waited. Two men were always more fun than one!
Abby - 2000-01-12
ucian watched as Diana approached only to be nearly run down by Roderon, who was headed in the same direction. The pair exchanged words, then the Llowran took the Felana's arm and began leading him straight toward Lucian.
(Lovely. They *would* decide they needed to talk to me *right now.*) He braced himself, hoping he wouldn't come across as a complete idiot, and when the pair reached easy hearing distance he nodded politely--which had the interesting effect of making his head swim...
"Good evening, Roderon, Diana," he said, his speech clear and, thankfully, perfectly normal. Of course, his tongue usually seemed to be the last thing affected when he'd had too much to drink. Fine motor control was generally the first to go... "Is there something you need?"
Danae - 2000-01-12
"Adriana smiled at the suggestion. The gardens were her own personal favorite feature of the keep and she was pleased that he too was attracted to them. She and Rody had spent many afternoons and nights there just talking and relaxing and they always put her at peace.he gardens. Your brother's tour left much to be desired."
"Well, I think I can do something about that." As they walked side by side towards the entrance to the gardens she could see him beginning to relax. She had noticed a palpable tension that always surrounded him when he was with a lot of people or cooped up in a small room. It was something she had duly noted but never mentioned to him. She figured she would be able to use that knowledge to her advantage eventually although she wasn't quite sure how yet.
"So, will you answer a question for me? Why did you take this job? Protecting a young girl who is trying to escape the dislike of her father and the rumors that her court chooses to believe about her? What kind of a job is that for people like you and your sister?"
She thought she had well concealed her emotions during her small questioning outburst, but she didn't realize that for an instant a look of anguish had flashed across her face. She had never confided in anyone but Rody how much her father's scorn hurt her but to anyone who chose to really look, it was written right on her face in that moment.....
"Since I wish to speak with him about our little journey together, it would be wise if you joined me, no?"As Diana slipped her arm through Rody's and began do all but drag him over to Lucian he had no choice but to agree or look like a fool. As they stood before Lucian, it was clear that he was playing the part of a person that was a little tipsy and trying very hard not to let anyone else become aware of that fact. As he glanced at Diana he knew that she too was aware of the Lord's condition. Since it was clear that Diana had her own reasons for wishing to speak with Lucian Rody simply waited for her to begin...
Copyright (c) 1999-2000 Abigail Laughlin and the members of the Circle of Stone.