Circle of Stone

The Story

Page 49

Amber - 2001-01-20

elene took another deep breath, her eyes shut for a moment as she sought to calm the rapid fluttering of her heart, the whirling of her mind. Was she really about to tell him this? Yes, he'd sworn he wouldn't EVER take her back to her father.. and, despite what had happened, she believed him. Those words she'd spoken back in that clearing had been just that; words, words she'd delivered in her anger, that she regretted now. The log underneath her was surprisingly soft, making her remember the sofa in front of her bed, where she'd spent so many nights studying by the light of the fire in the hearth. She was a bit homesick, but.. she wouldn't go back until her father had seen that she wasn't some puppet to be moved around just to make him more powerful and happier. She was her own person, and if she wanted to get married, she'd do it then but not before that time.

"You're right, I am a noblewoman. My father is the Baron of the House of the Hawk of Aleron, my mother a princess of sorts from a neighboring kingdom. I know that I seem a bit spoiled, and I guess that is quite correct," she said with a slightly embarrassed tone, glancing at him, as if embarrassed at this concession. "I just can not seem to get used to it out here. Just when I think I have everything figured out, something changes and I find myself lost again. And it is not a feeling I am at all comfortable with... My father has had this insane notion that.." she laughed here, softly, ruefully, shaking her head at the utter peculiarity of it all. "That I should get married. And of course, I will not. I do not like this man that he has picked for me, and I like even less the fact that he is planning such a preposterous event. I have barely completed my studies, and I am not ready to be a wife, much less a mother, and that is the sort of thing this man would expect of me." Her eyes flash fire at this. Bulbar had insulted her the very first time she'd met him; she could still remember his mocking tone as he speculated about things that hadn't been and still weren't any of his business. Of course, he could do that, seeing as she was to be his bride. "I am not betrothed, and so I refuse to allow this to happen. In my father's eyes, I should be happy that he is looking out for my welfare." She laughed slightly in derogatory scorn at this pronouncement. "But what he does not see is that if he just respected me a bit more, I might stay at home for more than a week at a time instead of trapsaizing around my villa all the time." She brushes a strand of hair from her eyes, resisting the urge to run her hands through it in another attempt to straighten it out.

She turned to him now, her teal eyes dark with the longing, the longing for her home and the things she knew, was familiar with. Ignoring the homesickness that ate at her insides, she focused on him, on his handsome face, calm eyes. Now that she really looked at him, she could see his training as a knight showing through, in the way his hand hovered near his sword, his eyes alert... If he'd ever visited her court, he'd certainly have all the ladies there fawning over him within minutes. Hopefully, she forced herself to think, that will be after my father has realized his error. Straightening a bit, she looked at him squarely, her gaze demanding. "There, now you've heard it, but remember you promised. Not a word to anyone. I can not let my father hear that I am here. I have your word, right?"

Sorana - 2001-01-22

he cool of evening was a relief to Aubrey. After a long, hot day of dragging that heavy wagon behind him and breathing the dust the other wagons kicked up, he almost wished that he had accepted Amber's offer of freedom. *Fifteen miles. I never realized just how much strength it takes to pull a wagon that far. Even a small one like Amber's.* A small breeze blew around Aubrey playfully before continuing on its way through the camp. *Lovely, now it's going to rain. At least I won't have dust up my nose all day tomorrow. With any luck, I can stay dry under a tree tonight.*

The rain that night was not light, and trees were no shelter at all. The sound of water hitting the roof was so loud that Amber was shocked out of her sleep. When she carefully looked out one of the windows she discovered the noise was being made by rain. *Gods, it looks like an entire lake is being poured on us....And the noise! I feel like I'm camping under a waterfall! I hope Aubrey's all right out there. I certainly can't do anything about it if he isn't. Where did I pack my cotton?* Amber found the cotton in with her jewelry supplies. She stuffed her ears up with some of it, then returned to her bed. She finally fell asleep two hours later when the rain lessened slightly.

Diana - 2001-01-23

iel bobbed her head as a sort of nod. "High blood tends to do that to the best of us, so you're not alone in your sentiments. I must say I was a bit surprised that you had left, though.. I didn't think humans took embarassment *that* badly sometimes. You see.. This is my first exposure to humans that aren't traders and aren't looking for someone to bleed dry. And traders aren't renouned for being over modest."

She paused. That was quite a speech for her. But she still had more to say. "I, too, should apologize for my actions last night.. I had no right to judge you without knowing you for more than a few days." Her ears flicked slightly in embarassment. 'We aren't known for being easily embarassed, either.'

"Well, now that you've checked Jetta and she appears uninjured, though a bit frightened, perhaps we should find Ser Ainsley and Lady Selene and mend broken ties.. Strength in numbers." Tiel smiled.

Spellbinder - 2001-01-23

revor sat silently, listening to Selene's account with rapt attention. He couldn't believe his ears as Selene confessed her spoiled attitude. Perhaps there was hope for her after all, he thought. It seemed that the real Selene was finally making her appearance. Trevor barely dared to breathe lest he spoil the moment. He felt something stir within him, some protective instinct flaring to life. He would champion her cause, both to her father and this Bulwhateverhisname idiot. He saw Selene in a whole new light now. Not as a spoiled little rich girl, but as a real person with needs and fears, a woman who needed someone to be her strength. Her champion. Yes. Trevor returned Selene's gaze, his features quiet, determined. He loved her eyes, had since they'd met. So expressive, always changing and seeming to reveal her moods, if one paid attention. He saw the longing in her eyes and he felt his own longing, a longing for someone true who would share his life, his ambitions, his dreams. Someone who also had dreams to share and love to give. He was weary of meaningless flirtations, tired of women who were only interested in him because of his looks. Trevor could have been vain and self-absorbed, but his training as a knight prevented that, combined with his upbringing. His mother, Sherai, always said that a man should not think of himself more highly than was true and right, that physical appearance was secondary to what was in a person's heart.

As Selene finished and asked again for his word, Trevor remained silent for a moment. He bit back on his reply, which could have been inflammatory. He ordinarily would have made the remark that he had already had given his word and wasn't once enough? No, keep quiet, he told himself. Just for once keep your mouth shut and think before you speak. Trevor nodded, then spoke. "Yes, M'Lady. You have my solemn word on that." He reached over and took Selene's hand. He stared deep into her eyes and said, his voice earnest, "Trust me, Selene. I want to help you, believe me. I just wish you had told me this sooner. But no matter, you have shared your secret with me now.” Trevor took a deep breath and forged on. “I do not blame you for running away from that situation. You are not some article that can be bought or sold, some pawn in your father's chessboard of political ambition. No, you are so much more than that. You are indeed your own person and should be given the freedom to make up your own mind. Believe it or not, you have done well despite the setbacks and dangers you have faced. Trust me when I say that you have done better than most people that I have encountered from your background. Most just ran back to daddy crying and whimpering at the first sign of trouble." Trevor smiled, his eyes crinkling merrily and squeezed her hand. "But not you. You have shown courage worthy of a knight. And I admire you for that."

Trevor stood slowly, still holding Selene's hand. He gently pulled the young lady to her feet. Surprising her, he knelt before her, his eyes serious as he looked up into her face. "As a Knight of Torrigan, sworn to defend those in my care, I pledge my service to you, Lady Selene." He stood and, with her hand in his, he looked down into her eyes and said, "If you will have me as your Champion, M'Lady, I would consider it an honor." Trevor bowed slightly, his eyes locked on Selene's and kissed her hand. He let his lips linger sensuously on her warm, soft skin, his eyes ablaze with emotion. “Thank you for trusting me.” he softly added.

Gavin - 2001-01-24

"ou, are a nutcase."

Those words finally drove Engra over the edge.

"SHUT UP!!" He snarled, glaring down at the man. He could feel his power crackling around him. This was not how he'd planned to meet Keleos, the situation was getting out of hand.

"Shut up, before I do something we'll all regret." Rage still smouldering in his eyes, Engra turned away from the man and back to Keleos. Time to get it over with.

He took a deep breath. "Keleos, I am Engra Delarnis, brother of Sevarius. As part of a blood oath sworn when we were young, I must challenge you to a duel to the death."

With that he started out of the room...

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