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| Vale of the White Horse | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 5 Jan 2010, 13:03 (19,375 Views) | |
| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 12:23 Post #871 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'I'm...Yes. Alright. Tudwrig...I really am sorry for pressuring you.' She dropped her gaze. |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 12:25 Post #872 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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He waved his hand, finding it very nearly impossible to speak. 'It's nothing,' he managed to get out. If only he didn't have to go see the Roman officer in this state. 'Please ask Braegne to brew some of that herbal draught?' |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 12:28 Post #873 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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He looked half ready to faint right there. His voice was tight, unnaturally strung with pain. 'I will....This can't happen Tudwrig!' she continued then, more fierce. 'You can't see him in this state you're in. You must rest, you look ready to change into the...that thing. Let me tell the Roman that he has to wait.' She set her jaw tightly. |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 12:29 Post #874 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'The herbal draught,' he grated, '..please.' If he turned when Marcus Iulius was around - well, perhaps that'd solve one of his problems. |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 12:36 Post #875 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She said nothing more but hurried to the hall to her own chambers. If he turned before she was back, what would she do? He'd best lock himself in right now, she thought and then her heart churned for the cruelty of it. Inside her room, she slammed the door shut. 'Drop that, Braegne,' she snapped to her maid, who was sewing one of her tunics. 'You must make the drink. Or did you keep some? I need it now.' Braegne dropped the cloth to the bed. 'I did keep some...what's wrong?' 'What do you think is wrong?' Briallen pressed a hand to her temples. 'My husband is a walking curse. The Roman is pressing on us and this girl seeks a refuge we cannot give her.' |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 12:41 Post #876 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I'm sorry,' Braegne said quietly. 'It's in the kitchen, I'll get it straightaway.' With a worried look on Briallen she ran outside and towards the kitchens. She paid no attention to the glances other servants gave her, but grabbed the flask of herbal draught and carried it back to the bedchamber. |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 12:45 Post #877 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'Thank you.' She was about to leave, but halted in the doorway. 'The girl, Gwenllian. Go find her, keep her company until I can come.' 'Yes, of course,' Braegne said still with that flustered look on her face. Right away.' They left the room together but Briallen parted to find her way back to Tudwrig. He had retreated in his chamber, she saw to her relief. But the doorway stood on a crack. She peered inside, her heart racing. It was quiet inside, but did that mean that he was still fighting to contain the change, or that the beast sat brooding in a corner, his eyes fixed on her shadow? |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 12:48 Post #878 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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He heard something outside his door. 'Bri - ow,' he growled, his voice more beast than human now. He was still in control, but it was slipping fast. Draught, he needed it now. It wasn't nowhere near the miracle-cure it had once been, but it did relieve the headaches. And when the pain was gone, it was easier to keep control. |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 12:52 Post #879 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She slipped inside and found him crouched against the furthest wall. 'Yes, I have it,' she muttered. He might now even be able to drink, so she simply brought the cup to his lips and steadied his head with one hand softly against his cheek. 'Take it now, before things get worse. That's right.' |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 12:58 Post #880 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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He hardly knew what he was drinking, and when there was nothing left to slip down his throat, he tried to push Briallen away. 'Leave me,' he croaked, 'lock the door...' |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 13:05 Post #881 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Her eyes had been burning. Now that she felt his hand push her off, the tears simply slipped over her eyelids. She didn't want to - didn't want to leave him and did not want to be pushed away like that. Not by her own husband. With a throat burning from unsaid words she pressed her mouth against his, kissing him on the lips. 'Please don't change.' Not a request he could acquiesce to. Briallen was fully aware of the power that shuddered through his body, something dark that would destroy her in an instant. And yet she pressed her lips to his. |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 13:10 Post #882 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Tudwrig felt the wetness on his cheeks and hated himself for being the reason of her tears. But it was nothing in comparioson to how much he loathed and despised the curse for turning him into this thing. When her lips pressed to his, for a fleeting moment he could forget about everything and take a normal breath, stop trembling for a while. It was over all too soon, though, and he dug his fingers into his hair, grinding his teeth together. 'Please, go...' |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 13:13 Post #883 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She backed away, leaving the empty cup by his side. Without looking over her shoulder she left the room and locked the door. It seemed to her that the sound of the turning key was the sound of her heart breaking. She remained outside, with her back against the wall next to the door, feeling as shut off from him as never any closed door could. Briallen gulped her tears down, rubbed over her burning eyes with her sleeve. She must be strong, after all. To face the girl and tell her to leave Caer March. To face the Roman all alone, while his eyes made her feel like a beetle close to a bird of prey. |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 13:20 Post #884 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'...and Briallen will be here any moment, now.' Gwenllian nodded at the girl who had introduced herself as Braegne and brought her some food and drink. 'I think I really caught her and her husband at a bad time,' she fussed. Braegne gestured with her hand, though Gwenllian couldn't help but notice how artificially casual it looked. 'It's just the presence of the Roman officers. All very new, everyone's a bit on edge.' |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 13:22 Post #885 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She took a last deep breath. Her eyes must look swollen and red. There was no time. Briallen left the gloomy corridor, making her way to the hall. She saw Gwenllian and her maid immediately. 'I'm so sorry to make you wait.' |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 13:24 Post #886 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'It's nothing,' Gwenllian said, 'after all, mine was a bit of an untimely intrusion.' Briallen looked dishevelled, her eyes puffy as if she'd cried. She bit her lip and gingerly asked whether or not she was all right. |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 13:27 Post #887 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'I...There's something we need to discuss.' She eyed Braegne who got the hint and got up, edging away to give them some space. 'Look, Gwenllian...My husband has some...worries....as to your stay here.' It was hard to look the girl in the eyes. |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 13:34 Post #888 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Oh,' was all Gwenllian managed to get out. It sounded like there would be a no following those words, and if so, what should she do then? 'My husband doesn't know where I am,' she said, 'so if it's that he's worried about...' |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 13:38 Post #889 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Briallen sank down, just in time as her legs felt like giving in. 'It's not so simple,' she tried, keeping her words careful. 'It's that we are struggling to keep autonomy. These Romans weren't our...choice.' This was probably as far as she could go. 'And my husband is not well. We can't risk a war with a vengeful chieftain.' There, the harsh words were out. Perhaps Tudwrig was right and was this still better than the dark truth. 'I'm so sorry. You can move on to a new caer, I'll help you with provisions as much as I can. But I'm...I will let you stay till -' She couldn't make real promises, Briallen realized. |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 13:46 Post #890 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Her stomach tied itself into a tight knot. She swallowed a couple of times, trying to think of anything to say that might persuade Briallen to change her mind only to find that she couldn't. Because Gwenllian knew that she was right: if Higueid found out where she was, he'd demand that she'd be delivered up to him by threat of war. It would be the same in any caer, she realized. Wouldn't it be better to go back of her own accord then, begging for his forgiveness? No, that'd be giving up and if there was anything that Rhywallon had taught her, it was that giving up was what killed people. 'I..I understand. I'm sorry to have put you in such a predicament.' She was about to get up when the doors of the hall opened and a Roman officer walked in as if he owned the place. |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 13:48 Post #891 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Briallen jumped up. She must look less than smashing. With a flush on her face she turned to face the man, gathering all her royal status. 'I must have missed your announcement.' |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 13:51 Post #892 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I thought I'd just drop by to have a little chat with your husband,' Marcus Iulius said carelessly, looking from Briallen to a young woman he hadn't seen in the caer before now. Both of them looked like they'd just had a distinctly unpleasant conversation. 'I hope I'm not interrupting anything,' he continued without really meaning it, sitting down in the chair he knew belonged to the chieftain of this caer. Gwenllian wasn't sure what to do. She had some experience with Roman officers, since Higueid had received one or two in the short time she'd led his household, but this man looked like a dangerous predator, waiting to sink its jaws into Briallen. |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 13:55 Post #893 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'That is not the agreement,' she forced herself to say. Her hands had started to tremble, so she hid them behind her skirt. 'Please bear in mind that this is still our house. Guests are welcome, however...' By the look on his face, she shut her mouth, breathing through her nose. She cast a glance at Gwenllian, wanting to tell her that they were not through. She had meant to tell the girl to stay at least until she was feeling better. 'My husband isn't available. Could you return at a more suitable time?' |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 13:57 Post #894 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I've been waiting for a week,' the Roman said in a voice so cold that shivers ran up and down Gwenllian's spine. 'I'm starting to highly doubt if there ever will be a "more suitable time". It seems your husband isn't all that much of a chieftain, if he keeps his honoured guests waiting for so long.' |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 14:02 Post #895 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Her flush drained in his words. 'I'll ask you not to insult my husband in my presence.' His eyes ran up and down her body. She was glad for the long tunic she wore over a skirt that covered her to her neck. 'I hope you do not forget by whose grace your husband remains in his caer, Briallen.' 'I have been feeding your men, allowing them in my household,' she replied through clenched jaws. It was hard not to shout at this man. 'Now please leave us. Tudwrig is...' |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 14:06 Post #896 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'...not indisposed enough to allow a guest to insult me and mine,' Tudwrig finished the sentence, closing the doors of the hall behind him. He felt like a pile of horse's dung, but at least the headache had subsided enough to make it easier for him to keep in control. Marcus Iulius' face took on the expression of someone who smelled something singularly disgusting. With his shoulders as straight as he could hold them, he strode to the hearth. He glanced at Briallen, then at the girl who must be Gwenllian. He nodded at the both of them. |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 14:10 Post #897 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She was immediately quiet. He looked quite as awful as she must - had he cried? It was hard to tell. Now would be a proper time to remove herself from him and the Roman, but she knew that she could not let him face this alone. Straightening her shoulders and casting a victorious glance straight into Iulius' face, she stroked her fingers over his arm, taking a hold of him in a gesture that was not only tender, but proud. 'Ah, the needs of your wife seem to work magic on you,' Marcus commented dryly. 'I'll have to ask you to take better care of her. And must you allow her to witness state affairs? These are not matters for the private household.' Briallen stuck out her chin. 'We are not Roman, my lord. I am not a Roman wife.' |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 14:15 Post #898 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'She's staying,' Tudwrig added quietly but firmly and put his hand over hers. Marcus Iulius sneered. 'If you consider it wise.' He tossed a pointed look in Gwenllian's direction, who got up as if she was stung by a bee. 'I've no business here,' she said quickly. 'I'll be outside.' |
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| Marieke | 18 Apr 2010, 14:17 Post #899 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She was glad to feel that his hand still sought hers. After that cold push, she had feared that he'd lock her out. The kiss, he had never returned it. 'So. What is it you want to tell my husband?' |
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| Sonja | 18 Apr 2010, 15:25 Post #900 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I've just received word that my superior will be arriving within the next two weeks,' Marcus Iulius said coldly, with the look of a man who hated to admit that there was another man higher up in the hierarchy of his empire. 'Why?' Tudwrig asked brusquely. 'He wants to see the progress for himself.' |
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