Claudia nodded, smiling and brushing a tendril of her bronze colored hair away from her face. What he had said about becoming friends with her had left a little pleased glow in her chest. "I hope so as well, my Prince." She tried to push the little fluttering feeling away, but it stayed with her, as warm and comforting as a spring breeze. Oh well, she thought. Why not let herself be secretly pleased? There was no harm in it, as long as she was the only one that knew. Comforted by this new thought, Claudia unfastened the lid of her trunk.

Inside were several books and papers - Claudia's diary, a few of her favorite books to read on the journey, and paper and ink to write home. Claudia lifted the treaty out carefully. It was written a scroll bound with blue ribbon. It wasn't the official copy of the treaty - that was still in the possession of Claudia's herald. She handed it to Beauregard, saying "Here it is. I hope that it meets Harista's needs, as well as preserving Orcade's."

((Haha, the word hunk made me think of a Fabio-esque guy standing on a beach...not exactly the same image as Beau, but close enough ;) ))

Beau smiled a little watching her and at her words he allowed himself to laugh a little, "Please, call me Beau, there is no need to be so formal when we are alone. However, I do hope you will remember the formalities in front of my father." he warned. If his father saw the two exchanging any sort of informalities on any level, he would be furious.

He watched carefully as she gathered up the treaty from her trunk and he took it when offered it. Beau undid the blue ribbon, moving it inside his hand so he would not lose it, but so it would not be in the way. He unrolled it and looked down at the words written on the page, taking in each one carefully.

((Haha, not what I was thinking either. XDDD By the way, would you mind translating the unspoken treaty? I'm not sure how to react otherwise. n_n;; ))

((Of course I will! I apologize about not writing what it read in the last post :lol:))

FOR THE EYES OF KING BEAUREGARD I, KING OF HARISTA AND ALL OF ITS TERRITORIES

His Majesty King Dante III of Orcade extends his salutations and respect. He wishes to put forth this treaty of peace, so that the fighting may end between Harista and Orcade. If His Majesty King Beauregard I approves of the following points, Orcade will withdraw troops and offer instead peace and friendship.

One - That His Majesty King Beauregard I remove the blockade from the port of Pyatha.

Two - That His Majesty King Beauregard I withdraw all troops, scouts, and parties of war from the borders and territories of Orcade.

Three - That His Majesty King Beauregard I withdraw claim to the territories of Reasz, Thyrsole, and Barwa, and acknowledge them as states of the Orcadean Empire.

Four - That His Majesty King Beauregard I will remove limitations of trade between Orcade and Harista, as well as Arsoley and Phera.

Five - That His Majesty King Beauregard I will release any and all Orcadean prisoners of war and will return them to officers of the Orcadean army.


If His Majesty King Beauregard I accepts these terms, His Majesty King Dante III will respond with the following actions of peace.

One - That His Majesty King Dante III will withdraw claim to the territories of Seda and Ophely, and acknowledge them as states of the Haristan empire.

Two - That His Majesty King Dante III will withdraw all troops, scouts, and parties of war from the borders and territories of Harista.

Three - That His Majesty King Dante III will send tribute of 4,000 crowns ((Orcadean currency)) annually to Harista in allegiance and friendship.

These are the terms of the agreement.

Claudia stood anxiously as Beau read, her face a picture of eager anticipation. She had read over the treaty herself several times, trying to find any point that would be disagreeable to Harista. She clasped and unclasped her hands, then smoothed her dress, then twisted her hair between her fingers as she waited.

((Lol, I've never written a treaty before, I hope it's satisfactory :rofl: ))

Even after he had finished reading it, he looked longer still at the treaty. He had a feeling she would not be pleased with what he was about to say, "Princess, forgive me for speaking my opinion, but even if he had read this treaty, he would have declined." he said, rolling back up the piece of parchment in his hand and beginning to tie it with the same ribbon he had undone from it, "My father would see this as a joke. He does not care about having those two territories returned to him while he has three of yours, which equal a larger amount of land and resources, he even has claim over resources taken from the people who run the port of Pyatha." he said, knowing exactly how his father thought. Beau had to wonder if because he could think the way his father did, would Beau end up like him in the end? He didn't particularly like to think so, and shook the thought, mentally, from his head. "Seeing as he can get those resourced, he does not need your yearly offering, nor the friendship of Orcade." he concluded, disappointment evident in his voice.

"Also, and most of all, accepting this would mean swallowing his pride and essentially admitting he was wrong to claim war against Orcacde, and that is something my father would not do." he said, holding the treaty out to be returned to the Princess. "It seems you and I are our peoples greatest hope more than originally thought." he said, regrettably.

((No problem; don't worry about not having written it before. &&Nice job writing it, by the way, I like how you did the quote-y thing, I wouldn't have thought of that. xP I've never written one before either, so it's perfectly fine by me. n_n; Though, Beauregard I is a jerk, so... Lol))

Claudia's face visibly fell. Could this monster king ever be appeased? She thought of her father's gentle laugh, and his easy-going way with his courtiers. She had always admired him as a great king, but apparently the rest of the world thought greatness in a ruler meant something else. Could this power-hungry man really be the world's best leader? She tried to shake the thought from her mind. It was disturbing enough to know that his country bordered hers. Things would be even worse if he were to acquire more land.

"I feared that this might be the case..." Claudia said, taking the tied scroll back from Beau and putting it in her trunk again. "My father and his councilors worked hard, but I see now that they didn't appreciate the gravity of the situation." Her stomach churned, and she cast her eyes down, not wanting Beau to see the tears that were forming there. The hope that had so recently risen in her chest was beginning to dwindle. "What can we do? What will appease him, Pr- I mean, Beau...? Orcade is not a rich country - we have little to offer in terms of land or services. Our army would be no great addition to yours, nor our crops or craftsmen. I'm afraid I have no leverage that we can arm ourselves with."

((Lol, I see! It was actually kind of fun to write :XD I like silly formal language.))

Beau watched her with great sympathy washing over his expression. He felt horrible about letting her down, but what he had said was the truth. His father and Orcade would probably never see eye-to-eye, especially not with the information the princess had just given her. If Orcade had nothing to offer to Harista, then Beauregard I would not accept easily; he wanted the land all to himself, and that was the only thing Orcade was not willing to give up. The treaty they offered was fair, but the king was not exactly a fair man, not anymore.

He walked closer to her and placed a hand under her chin, lifting her gaze to meet his. Beau knew she didn't want him to see her cry, by he thought nothing of it; he would be crying as well if he were her, though as a prince, or even a man, crying was simply not acceptable. Women were allowed to cry though, but royals only in private, which Beau thought silly. Emotions can sometimes just not be helped. "I understand your disappointment. The only thing your council misunderstood was the gravity of my father's madness and obsession with this war. He wants to rule over Orcade, and he will accept nothing less. This is why we must work together to bring him down, or back to his senses, though I fear the latter is unlikely." he said, watching her eyes. Beau wanted-needed- to be sure she understood. This was not going to be solved easily and there was great risk involved, but he was willing to work for it if she were willing to help.

Claudia's heart gave an excited leap as Beau came closer to her. Her eyes were full of distress and confusion, but a gleam of interest sparkled there too. She let herself linger for a moment, looking into the Prince's face. His green eyes were like new spring leaves.

Trying to regain her composure, Claudia pulled away, but not so far as to sever the tie of his compassion completely. She smiled at him, genuinely, and took his hand in both of hers. "Yes, we must. There can be no peace without our struggle. If my people knew that they had you as an ally, they would have new hope. And my father as well." She dropped his hand reluctantly. His skin was very smooth, and reminded her of marble - strong yet graceful. "Perhaps you shall meet him someday." Her smile widened. "I'm sure that he would like you, Beau."

Just then, a timid knock came at the door. "Your Highness, dinner is being served in half an hour. Your servants are here to prepare you for the meal."

Claudia glanced at Beau, suddenly nervous. Her look said it all - if her servants discovered Beauregard in her rooms, the gossip would spread like a wildfire on the plains. It would certainly mean trouble for both of them. "Oh, yes - um, just a moment!" Claudia called back, her eyes still on Beau, asking him for a solution.

Beau was a little taken aback by her suddenly pulling away, but he smiled as well, after she took his hand and when he saw her smile. The princess had such a lovely smile, he noticed. He nodded, listening to her speak, before he took his turn, "We will succeed, so your people shall have more than hope, as will mine." he said, letting his hand drop to his side once she had released it. "I would love to meet your father someday. He must be a good man to have raised you so." he smiled, "And also, a man who loves peace cannot be less than good." he amended, realizing that his own father wasn't particularly a good man anymore, but there was Beau, offering to risk his life for the good of all the people. The thought stopped him- he hadn't looked at it that way before.

Beau looked from the door to Claudia to the window. "Well," he whispered, "I see I am no longer needed here, so..." he smiled as he gave one last deep bow, "Adieu" he smiled rushing over, throwing the window open and leaping out onto the ladder like structure that held up and kept the vines tamed from the ground to where they were on the second story of the west wing. He shimmied down with skill, obviously having done it before.

Once he reached the ground, jumping from a few feet above the ground and landing with a thud, he looked up at the window again as he walked backwards, hoping for one last look at her, Claudia, for a reaction.. or even just to look.

"Oh!" Claudia stood stunned for a moment, shocked to see the Prince fling himself out of a high window. She rushed to the window and leaned out, hoping to see him safe. When she saw him standing safely on the ground, she laughed aloud and waved to him, mouthing "thank you!" so as not to be heard. What a strange character he was - how had he come to be that way?

"Princess?" Claudia recognized the voice. It was her lady-in-waiting, Priscilla, peeking through the partially open door. Claudia turned about quickly and wiped the giddy expression from her face, replacing it with one of calm interest. "It's time to get you ready for dinner, Princess. I'll lay out your dress." With a quick bobbed curtsey, Priscilla went to Claudia's clothes trunk and opened it. She pulled out a dress of dark blue silk, but Claudia went to her and put a hand on her arm.

"I think I'll wear the green tonight, Priscilla." Claudia's green gown was her favorite. She always thought she looked best in green, and she was feeling surprisingly cheerful about descending for dinner. She would have to see the King again, but Beau would be there. She wanted to look her best, as she had been wearing her travellng clothes in the only encounters she'd had with the Prince.

With Priscilla's help, Claudia dressed quickly, and was soon ready to join the table. She wondered where the King would position her for the meal. Would he treat her like a real guest, and give her a place with himself and Beau? Or would she be forced to eat in the kitchen? Claudia's heart was beating faster as she followed Priscilla down the corridor towards the main banquet hall. Nervously, she patted her tightly coiled hair, and fingered the silver necklace that Priscilla had fastened around her neck.

Beau smiled when he heard the princess laugh, and gave another bow as she looked out the window. She mouthed something, but he couldn't quite tell what it was, since her face was darkened by the lack of light outside, though he believed it was a thank-you. He then laughed as he ran around the castle, sneaking back into it through an empty room with an open window in the servant's quarters. He snuck in through there and into the main corridor to his room, where he prepared for dinner with his father, and hopefully Claudia.

After washing, and changing his shirt, he headed down with a servant when informed it was time to go. He walked down and into the dining hall, which only had the short, family table in it that day, leaving the rest of the room wide open. His father was in there already, goblet of wine in hand. He greeted his son casually, and Beau greeted him back, looking about as he took the seat to his father's right. The seat to his left was never used, as that was his wife, Beau's mother's seat. "Is Claudia joining us, or will she be eating with the dogs?" he asked as a servant poured Beau his own goblet.

The king let out a laugh, "Oh son, don't think me that barbaric. She may join us, should she muster up the courage to meet us down here." he said, smiling at his son. "Though, I must say I'm surprised how quick you were to rush to her defense in the throne room." he said, before covering his face in his goblet once more.

"I am merely looking out for the good of Harista, father. Helping someone is simply a consequence." he said, looking the king in the eye.

"You are growing bolder my son. It makes me almost proud, and will make me proud, should you remember your place here." he said, slightly warningly. Beau nodded, inhaling slowly. He desperately wished Claudia would make it down to dinner with them. Beau could hardly stand the thought of being alone with his father again.

At that moment Claudia was waiting with baited breath at the foot of the stairs in the great hall. She and Priscilla were alone in the big room, but Claudia was the only one showing any apprehension. Priscilla stood as calmly as a cow in a field. The Princess wondered how her lady in waiting could be so calm in a situation such as theirs. They were waiting for an escort to the room in which Claudia would be dining. The seconds seemed to drag on like hours for Claudia, as filled as they were with her mile-a-minute thoughts. Soon, however, their wait was over - a serving man appeared, bowed, and beckoned them to follow him.

Their walk was a short one. The serving man lead them to a door facing east out of the great hall and opened it with another bow. Claudia was quite surprised to see the King and his son sitting at the small table. She had become convinced that King Beauregard would have her eating elsewhere. Her heart did a funny jump as she saw the father and son - a mixture of joy upon seeing Beau and fear upon seeing his father. She took a deep breath and entered the hall, her green skirt trailing behind her, and gave a respectful curtsey. Another servant was pulling a chair back from the table for her. To her secret delight, she saw that she would be seated beside the Prince for the evening. Keeping her eyes demurely and timidly low, she walked to the table and sat down.

The opening of the doors echoed through the nearly empty hall. Beau looked up immediately, somewhat alarmed, whereas his father calmly looked up from the wine the servant was pouring into his goblet. If one didn't know better, they would guess his father was a drunkard, but in truth, it was a rare occasion where the king had more than one goblet filled with wine. Perhaps having the guests was what caused the king to need the extra glass. The servant helped Claudia to the table and next to the prince, who smiled at her, politely, but didn't stand as his father hadn't. It would have been a bit suspicious if he hadn't followed his father. "Good evening, Princess. I am so glad you could join us." he said with a nod of his head. Beau was more glad than she could possibly know at that moment. He was happy to see she was brave enough to save Beau from eating alone with his father, and also he was glad to have her in his company again.

When all three were seated, the first course was served, a thick stew that was, in Beau's opinion, delicious, but he didn't inquire what it was, though he guessed it was a form of bird. "So, Princess, do you find your quarters to your liking?" he asked, seeing as his father wasn't about to extend that much courtesy. Beau was starting to enjoy pretending that he and the princess hadn't had this conversation before, and as though this was his first time casually conversing with her.

Claudia smiled politely and nodded to Beau. As soon as he repeated the question he had asked her only a few minutes before. "Yes, thank you. The room is lovely." She kept her voice quiet, but not inaudible. It was a better bet to make herself seem as timid and complacent as possible. From what she had seen of Beauregard I, and what she had heard from his son, he didn't like to be challenged. If she could mask the plans she had with Beau beneath a mask of shyness, they might be able to get away with it. She took small spoonfuls of her stew, marvelling at the flavor but saying nothing. Occasionally she took furtive looks around the room, observing its size and elegancy. It was strange, she thought, that there were only the three of them at dinner. The court at home wasn't large by any standard, but she and her family regularly dined with visiting friends, diplomats, and family.

A servant came to the table and poured Claudia a goblet of wine. She watched the richly colored liquid fill her goblet, and then took a taste. It was intense and flavorful, and Claudia smiled slightly. She recognized the taste as a vintage of her homeland. Harista may have the greatest and most powerful army in the world, but no country could match Orcade's wineries.

He nodded, and went to answer, but the king spoke first, "Good to hear you appreciate the room. You were put in the west wing, yes? The one with the very large windwos?" he asked, sincerity in his voice that startled the prince. Beau smiled, paying attention to Claudia without making it obvious. Despite Beau's father being in the room, the princess seemed to be enjoying some of the things present: the wine, the room, the food. The next and main course was served- a steak of venison and some vegetables that grew in the royal garden. The king had always appreciated his wife's garden. While Beau ate, he wondered if his mother would be happy that Beau had kept up with it.

Slightly startled at the king's interest, Claudia gave a shy smile and said "Yes, Your Majesty. Those windows show a gorgeous view of your gardens." Claudia's eyes visibly widened as the next course was brought out. She loved venison, and this looked particularly good. At home, whenever her father went on a hunt with his friends, he would bring back venison for the cook to prepare specially for her. She was glad that the first meal she took at the Castle Harista was one that reminded her so much of home. It was comforting to be able to associate things with what was familiar to her.

As Claudia ate, she noticed a large tapestry on the far wall. It depicted a scene of war, but beautifully and gracefully made, so that each solider was outlined in perfect detail. She saw that the picture was vaguely similar to the countryside. "That is a very fine tapestry, Your Majesty. The artist who made it is very skilled." Although the subject matter was somewhat disturbing, Claudia couldn't help being captivated by the exquisite craftsmanship and beauty. It was somewhat like the Prince and his father...the King was the image of war and destruction, and Beau was the fine detail of the artist's hands. Very different, but woven together into a single whole, one unable to be without the other.

The king smiled fondly, at no one in particular, "My wife designed that room, and those were her gardens. Beau cares for them now, with a bit of help from a gardener." he was obviously remembering his wife. Beau knew how much his mother and father loved each other, even though their marriage had been arranged. It tore his father apart when she fell ill, and Beau thought he would have gone mad when she finally died, but he seemed more normal than he had been since she became ill. Often people wondered if the king had lost his mind. To Beau, the war he wouldn't let go of proved that he had.

The king came back to the table and laughed as he looked back at the tapestry she had taken notice of. "He is quite a skilled artist indeed. Old family friend as well. This one was a gift to me, to commemorate the winning of the war against Disresarn many, many years ago."

Beau looked to his father suddenly, which the king caught and looked back. Beau spoke first, "I did not know we fought against Disresarn." he stated, looking at his father with furrowed eyebrows and a confused and curious look upon his face.

The king nodded once, "Disresarn declared war on many countries in its attempt to gain power in its time. When they declared war on Orcade, the queen and I of course decided rushed to the rescue. Back in those days, Orcade and Harista were on good terms, and even more so, we were friends, and when we fought along side each other, Harista took military lead. Orcade was only to supply resources for our troops. As you must know, Princess, Orcade is a more peaceful kingdom who had many resources, whereas Harista has a rich military and imports most our things. We won the war against Disresarn in very little time." he recalled, his voice far from them, as well as his gaze. When he came back to reality he looked at Claudia only briefly, and then to his son and back, "The artist who made it was happy to have his family back, as they had been taken prisoner. Orcade and Harista declared in the treaty my council and I drew up that prisoners were to be released and the kingdoms and territories taken as well." Suddenly he stared at the princess, "I know how Orcade negotiates, Princess, and that is why I do not care for your treaty." he said, looking away with the last word. He then returned to the story, "I believe your father was given a similar gift though it depicts a different scene. I believe it is blue embroidered with silver..." he trailed off, waiting for her to respond and answer if he were correct or not.

Taken aback by the King's frank story, Claudia hesitated before speaking. "I...believe I have seen it, Your Highness. It hangs in my father's council room, I think." Claudia had not been in the council room very often. Her father wanted very much to keep his political troubles separate from his family. It didn't help much - Claudia found everything out from either her mother or the servants in any case. She tried to picture the blue and silver tapestry. Also a scene of war. Why was it only battles that were commemorated with such fine artwork? The name Disresarn was familiar to Claudia, although the story of the war was not. The history of the country had been included in her historical tutoring, but Claudia wondered why there had been no mention of the war. Perhaps it had been too gruesome or shameful for the historians to depict.

Claudia watched Beau for a moment, noting his confusion as well. It seemed a shame that such an interesting, intelligent young man would have to be swamped with this political concerns soon. It wasn't an easy job to be the king. Claudia sighed - she would never have to worry about these things. As a Princess, she would only marry to become a queen, and they had little to do with the international matters of the country.

The king nodded, "I believe yours is of soldiers marching in their perfectly straight line, with a hill in front of them. Symbolic of making it over the obstacle that the war was for Orcade, and how proud they were to do it. The artist knew your father would not like nor appreciate a scene such as the one made for me." he noted to the girl. With that, he stood, "I hope you enjoy the rest of your meal, but I have business to attend to." he said, exiting the hall and leaving Claudia and Beau with several servants, but essentially alone in the hall.

Beau looked to Claudia and blinked a few times before finding something to say, "Well, that was... quite the lesson my father gave..." he said, unsure what else he could say.

Claudia frowned slightly as she watched the king exit the room. "It certainly was an odd conversation." She said to Beau, sighing. "I'm afraid I'm never going to be able to win any favor with him. We really are going to have to be secretive about this." She lowered her voice slightly at the end of her statement, so as not to let the servants hear. It gave her a little thrill to be enjoying a meal only with Beau, able to speak about whatever they chose. Although she had felt so nervous around him before, she was finding that his friendly manner allowed her to be herself. It was a nice variation from what she normally encountered. People were only interested in seeing her as a Princess. They didn't care what was underneath that mask.

"You must have cared for your mother very much, to make sure her gardens are still looked after." Claudia smiled at Beau. "I'm sure she was a lovely woman. Respect for one's parents - that's a sign of strong character." Claudia could imagine the queen in her mind's eye. She must have had green eyes like Beau's, as clear as a spring day. And her voice would have been pleasant to the ear, although she was soft spoken. The thought brought a pleasant warmness to Claudia's mind. The court must have been a very different place when she was alive. The king must have been different, too.

Beau nodded, "Odd indeed." he said in agreement. When she lowered her voice, he mimicked the volume, "It shouldn't be too hard. I know of no servants willing to betray me to keep the war going. It is mainly the General and the King who have the obsession with war, and neither of them pay much attention to the affairs within the castle." he told her. Ever since the war started, whatever went on in the castle, and some of what went on in the kingdom, was left to Beau to take care of. The king would lock himself in his war room for days at a time, most often with the General, talking back and forth of their next move, while Beau took care of the people. It wasn't as though the prince minded taking care of those responsibilities, but since the king was neglecting him, his problem lie with him.

When Claudia began to speak of Beau's mother, he smiled a little, "Thank you. I loved my mother, very much, and she was a lovely woman. I helped her when she first started the garden, and it was only natural I keep up with it... She loved that garden." he laughed.

A little spark glowed in Claudia's eyes as she pictured a tottling little Beau with his mother, planting the first seeds that would become her garden. She liked the image - it made her feel as though she knew more about Beau's life. "What a helpful son you must have been." She laughed. "I can just imagine it." As she spoke, servants arrived silently and replaced their venison with a delicate almond tart with cream. Claudia gasped slightly at the gorgeous little displays on their plates.

"They look delicious!" She exclaimed, lifting her fork. She took a small bite and smiled widely. "They are delicious." Then, remembering her manners, Claudia blushed slightly and said "You'll have to forgive me, I love sweets. My parents are always teasing me about it." Although her face showed embarrassment, her wide smile was still there. She felt more ridiculous than ashamed - a sign of her growing ease around Beau.

Beau listened to her and began to blush, looking down to try and hide it. "Oh stop, you are embarrassing me!" he laughed, "Yes, my mother thought I was very helpful, though..." he admitted. "she told me many times." he laughed once more. Watching her entertainment with her dessert, he laughed a bit. "It's perfectly alright, I understand." he smiled still, "My mother was the same way." he informed her about the small fact about his mother that he remembered.

Claudia giggled and hid her mouth with her hand. "So you don't have any brothers and sisters, then? Just you and your father?" She wondered if he would be upset by her question. Living in a huge castle, just you and a father like his...it must be tough. Claudia's own home was always full of people - counselors, courtiers, musicians, servants, and visiting family. Always visiting family. There didn't seem to be a week during the year that some distant cousin wasn't staying in the guest quarters. It didn't bother Claudia, she liked her relatives. Sometimes, however, she wished for a little peace. Perhaps Beau was feeling an overdose of solitude.

Beau smiled a little, but shook his head, "No, it is only me. I was told I had an older brother once, but he did not live long. I never met him." he informed her, "Though I think it would be nice to have a younger sibling, or even an older one, had he lived. But what about you, have you any siblings, Princess?" he asked with a small smile.

The way he pictured her family was Claudia having several siblings, and she was the oldest. She would brush her younger sister's hair and they would giggle together about silly girl things, and she would scold her younger brothers when they were dirty in good clothes and laugh at their silly antics. Beau wasn't sure why he pictured her in that manner, but it made him think of her as a bit of a mother. He thought she was gentle and kind enough, and she would make a very good one.

Claudia swallowed her bite of almond tart and nodded. "I have 3 younger brothers," she said with a sigh. "They're...a handful. But they can be very sweet." She smiled at Beau. "It must be nice to have some time to yourself. Home is..." she sought for the right word, "...crowded. I have a large family." She set down her fork and took another sip of wine. It's tang reminded her of dinners at home - how loud and boisterous they were. Sometimes she yearned for peace and quiet, but that was found easily enough. The library and the gardens were her private places. She could sneak away and daydream, thinking of far-off places, and sometimes fantasizing about the man that she would marry some day. Recalling those afternoons made her blush slightly. Had she ever pictured someone like Beau?