Back Story: Two kingdoms border one another to the east sits a mighty kingdom, who's king rules with his faithful adviser over his people with a stern but fair hand. He has laid claim to the land just at the west most part of his kingdom. Only one problem with this, the kingdom to the west who is ruled by a king and the people of his court who say that this land has been his and his people's for over a decade. Thus a feud has started, each saying an area of lush green land and thick river is theirs, people from each side has moved down to the place of question trying to lay claim for each side.


Setting:

Kingdom One ~ A large castle sits on the highest point of the kingdom over looking the busy cities and quiet country side, most importantly the land that the king wants. The castle like most his large, made of stone bricks and windows set in rot iron. A cobblestone road leads up to it and there is much hustle and bustle. Here the most action is happening in the thrown room were the king is speaking to his adviser.

Kingdom Two~ A second castle sits on a central point of the kingdom, it looks very similar to its eastern counter part. In the lower levels of the castle, cooks, servants, slaves, guards, and knights bustle about in their everyday duties. The castle is humming with life and gossip. Two people a guard and a staff member pass one another in the halls with the usual gossip filled greetings.

Profile:

Name: Cathlynn Louise Black
Age: Looks 21
Race: Vampire
Gender: Female
Appearance: Cathlynn

Name: Lance Val'more
Age: 19
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Appearance: Lance

Name: Oseye
Age: Appears to be in her late teens/early twenties
Race: Vampire
Appearance: Oseye

Name: Julian La Croix
Age: Twenty
Race: Human
Appearance: Julian

Yawning lightly Cathlynn sat off to the left and behind the thrown staring at a map of the land. She seemed annoyed as she pushed a free strand of hair out of her face and stuffing it into an intricate snake hair piece. It sat off her head a little and wrapped around and through her hair as if it were swimming through it. She was trying to figure out their next best political move considering the fact that the 200 acre area of land surrounding the best water source in the kingdom was being fought over. It would be horrible if they found a way to kill off the lush land around it or fouled the water if they stepped on the wrong toes. In all my years I've never advised a conflict over something so unreasonable. She thought to herself with a slight twitch. I will not do it now. Perhaps an offer of money or half the bounty of that land?

_~_~

Lance yawned as he pushed his red hair out of his face. He grinned passing a guard. "Good Morning, and good day. Bless that your travels brought you this way." He said in a sing song voice. He was a happy man though his pay was little and he lived above the horses he worked with. The red haired boy was on his way to the horse stables again, he had to groom a group for the knights heading out to watch the land that the king was trying to hold onto. He found it sinceless why could they not share this land? A river could not be tamed not by the likes of either king, nor the labor of many a poor man.

Julian heaved a sigh of annoyance as his father had started one of his usual morning rants over breakfast. Why did owning a piece of land bother him so much? Honestly.. he was like a child! He only wanted it because the next kingdom had claimed it was theirs. Though his father had given him the thrown several years ago now, he still seemed adamant that Julian 'claim what was rightfully theirs'. Excusing himself, he left his food and headed straight for the throne room where, hopefully, he'd get a little peace and quiet.

Daylight was something Oseye absolutely despised, though thankfully the castle was a dark place and no matter what the season outside, it was always dark inside. During the day she'd keep an eye on the halls within the castle and go for a sleep around noon, then wake again at dusk to begin her knightly duties. Very few humans wanted to work the night shift and of those willing, none could move around or see as clearly as she could. Leaning against the wall in a shadowy corner, she watched the maids and guards go about their usual business.

Yawning lightly Cathlynn blinked studying the map again. Of course this was drawn by one side and the other she was comparing it too was drawn by the other. One held a little less land than the other. Tracing it out lightly she shaded in the land that was with out a doubt the land of the other kingdom. She sighed again and continued to measure a servant scuttled across the floor, humans were ungraceful and loud most the time. Looking up as they informed her that the king was coming. This still threw her for a loop. She'd worked for Julian's father, though if anyone asked that was her mother not her, it was safer to hide her nature. The funny little meat bags always threw a fit about a vampire working so close to the king.

~_~_~_~

Lance walked down the hall almost skipping. Stopping he looked over at a shady looking guard. A fair skinned one, it was hard to tell, male or female? He walked over. "Hello how are you today?" He asked avoiding gender as much as possible. He liked talking to "lonely" looking people.

((Does Julian know the advisers a vampire?))

There was really no peace to be had in this place, was there? From the moment he woke to the moment he passed out in bed sometime during the night, there was always someone around talking at him. Noticing a servant making a quick exit from the throne room, he sighed and rubbed his forehead. Now who was in his throne room? Pushing open the large, wooden doors, he stepped into the room and after a brief glance around, he noticed Cathlynn. Ah, well that wasn't too bad then, she wasn't too bad.

Oseye tore her eyes away from the chattering maids as an overly cheerful male decided to start talking to her. She looked at him quietly and said nothing for a moment, simply observing him. Then she realised it was rude to stare and inwardly sighed. "I was doing fine, whyd you ask?" The king and her fellow knights, she could talk to, but when it came to complete strangers like this she was a little hesitant.

((Sure it'd be less of a shock. ^-^))

Cathlynn looked up again from the map irritated now and then sighed with a bit of frustration. "Ah, My Lord how is your day going?" She questioned raising, bowing, and sitting back down. Which she should of waited to sit but she was in the middle of figuring out the next best move. Rubbing her head a little she traced out another area, perhaps they could split the damn river in half. Rubbing her head a second time she sat her pencil down folding her hands. Had the lord come to talk to her, or was her king here to free himself from his father, as he often did? She pondered this easy question for a moment.

~_~_~_~_~

Lance shrugged. "You looked lonely and it is such a beautiful morning, as today we get paid." He said with a grin. "And yet, alas, you look as if your life has been sucked out of you, and you are a walking dead. Your horse is even less active then you." He said figuring he took care of her horse as well he was the stable hand for the knights and guards.

"Oh, you know, the usual." Everyone within the castle knew about his fathers rants, more often than not they could be heard from several rooms away. Opting against sitting on the throne in silence, he walked over to Cathlynn and looked over what she was doing. "Why not take a break? The land isn't going anywhere.."

Yes, she supposed that was a good enough excuse to be happy, payday. Such a shame she was unable to venture into town and spend a penny of it. Not that she needed anything, she'd enough clothing and amour to last years and she didn't need food. "That's because he's nocturnal." Yes, she had a horse, a light chestnut stallion by the name of Thunder. Along with various other peculiar habits, Thunder seemed to be more active during the night, just as she was.

Cathlynn looked up and chuckled some. "I must admit that I do not miss those rants of his." She said softly with a slight smile. As the king approached she raised her eyes and looked at him. "What am I to do on a break?" She inquired having nothing else as of late to do. "Do you need help with anything you need help or advice on?" She questioned further before sighing and setting down her writing utincil on the table beside the maps. She rubbed just below her eye so she didn't ruin the chamber maids hour of experimental make up. It had come out nice very intricate and not really her thing but it was nice. Her eyes scanned the king over, as always pale skin, and his blond hair made him look as if he were from some country up north. His smaller build ruled it out however, and hinted towards a more eastern ancestory, with the slightly elfish look to his face and an ellagance rarely seen in men these days, he was easy on the eyes to say the least.


Raising an eyebrow the stable hand chuckled some. "Ah well that is good to know, now I can feed him at night and he'll finally eat something. I'm assuming the behavior mimics the owner. Night watch guards normally have their horses in a special area. Had I been told I would of moved the beauty over sooner. My apologies." He with a slight head nod. His hair falling into his eyes. Looking around he blinked lightly. "Well I suppose I will see you around. Best get that stallion moved before he get grumpy." He added with a light grin before turning on his heels and heading down the hall, leaving the guard in peace more or less.

Indeed, Julian did not look like any of the men in his family, they were all burly with dark hair and eyes. But his father had married a lovely woman from way up north and it was her family he took after. Though that was purely his appearance, personality wise he was certainly his fathers son. Julian was the only one who could rival his father in a rant should something rub him up the wrong way. Though they'd not argued like that since he was a young teenager now. "No, I'm fine, I've finished all of my studies and I'm up to date with all information." What could a vampire possibly do during the day besides work? "I hear there are some new tome's and manuscripts in the library."

"Its not your fault." She replied with an idle shrug of her shoulders. Thunder had spent most of his life being active during the night, even as a foal. It was this strange behaviour that brought the two together in the first place. "Good luck with that, he was born grumpy. Though you could coax him with a handful of lettuce." Pushing away from the wall, Oseye stood to her full height and stretched her arms out behind her. There was nothing going on.. what was the point in her standing around on watch like this? It was all time she could be spent sleeping.

A small smile spread across the vampire's lips as she rose gracefully from her chair again and nodded some. "Then I should read them I suppose, they could have valuable information." She said before bowing lightly again and stepping lightly forward. Unlike some folk lore she didn't look like she was floating as she walked it was a noticeable but graceful walk. She held herself like a proud woman of the court, after all she could get close to the kings and queens when others could not. Spreading the light aroma of wild jasmine as her pale form moved towards the exit of the thrown room a smile continued to play on her features. Cathlynn wondered if it was bright in the halls. She didn't know and didn't want to ask really.


Grinning the stable hand nodded as he hurried off taking her advice with him. He scurried out of the castle like a startled mouse and resumed his post amongst the other stable hands. His bright red hair disappearing inside the extensive stable and towards Thunder. He undid the stall and slowly tried to move the horse from its normal place to a new dimmer area. He recalled just getting this horse out of the stall during clean day and knew this wasn't going to be an easy task.

Julian finally took his place on the throne to watch Cathlynn move across the room towards the exit. She'd not aged a day, he could remember vividly the first time he laid eyes upon her as a young child. It was during one of his fathers late night meetings when the bickering over land began. Julian had gone to say goodnight to his father and she'd been stood in the room with him. Beside him, actually. All these years and she was still trying to work out whose land it was and how to claim it. She certainly deserved a break. "I suppose its always worth a look. You never know what may turn up in those old scripts."

Oseye retired to her bedroom, making sure she avoided any beams of sunlight that shone in through the large windows. Her room was down in the dungeons, nice and dark and out of the way. Over the past few years there had been very few 'visitors' in the dungeons, so there was no noise to speak of either, it was the perfect resting place.

Thunder on the other hand, was fast asleep and didn't appreciate being woken by the stable hand. Snorting in defiance, the stallion stood firmly at the back of his stall.

Cathlynn smiled and nodded. "Or who..." She added with a nod. "I'll be back in the hour I think," She stated before opening the door cautiously and peering out. "Its a very bright day." She muttered slipping out the best she could avoid the sun. The vampire did no appreciate the burning sensation the came with being in the sun light. Nor did she like the nasty looking burn and ashy texture left on her skin. Her eyes felt sore with the bright halls and she pulled a small vale down over them to help protect her sight. They needed curtains in these halls or at least light drapes.


Lance sighed lightly rubbing his face. "Come on boy, get over here." He said walking in carefully with a couple treats for the horse. He was good with animals really good with animals but this one always posed a problem with its stubborn ways. He watched for any signs of kicking or or worse. Thunder had bit him before and it didn't feel good at all. With his black leather boots standing in the hay laid out along the floor, the red haired human planted his feet showing off his fearless demeanor

"Very well, I'll still be here, no doubt." Anything to save his ears another of his fathers rants. Or perhaps he'd go for a walk in the gardens with the dogs? It looked to be the start of a very beautiful day and he didn't want to spend most of it hidden away in this dark room. No.. Julian decided on a walk with several of the castle's hounds. Leaving the throne room, he slowly made his way outside, heaving a soft sigh of relief as he did so.

Had it been closer to Dusk then Thunder would have put up more of a resistance. As it was, he was still half asleep having not long since fallen asleep. It was difficult to sleep during the day when the other horses and stable hands insisted on making noise. Snorting once more, Thunder started to move towards Lance, the treats were an added incentive.

Slipping silently into the library the adviser gracefully walked over to several shelves containing the new manuscripts. Her hand slid over top of them and she pulled a seemingly random one off the shelf. Sitting down in a nearby, hand carved wooden chair with an intricate desk in front of it to match. Looking at the desk she laid her reading material down running her hands over the prized knowledge. It was rare to find a woman who read instead of doing needle work, and little to none who could hold powerful position that needed the continuance reading. Cathlynn found she liked it, she liked it very much. Each time it was like a gift of new insight, this particular one was of the happening in a kingdom over the sea. She'd been there when she was young but things had changed a lot since then. Her eyes fell on the writings, folk lore no doubt, and silently with a quick speed they began to absorb the text.


Lance grinned as the horse came forward and sliding a loose rope around the muzzle, feeding him a treat, and then slowly moving him to the rarely disturbed darkened part of the stables. It was quiet with many off duty horses taking their rest. Some laid and other slept standing up. Every few feet with out a hassel the stable hand handed Thunder a treat. Lettuce, carrots, or a bit of an apple to keep the animal content and moving. Finding a suitable stall wasn't hard either. All it was was getting the creature settled in its new home.

Julian took a moment to survey the grounds, noting there were many out and about today. Several of the gardeners were making the most of the weather and tending to the grounds and he'd even spotted one of the maids hanging out washing to dry. Smiling faintly to himself, Julian walked over to the kennels to let out his two favourite dogs. A large, wolf like canine with the very original name of Wolf, and a much smaller dog called Lady. The two dogs wasted no time in shooting off across the grounds. Holding back a laugh, the king followed at a much slower pace.

Thunder followed Lance, head hanging low due to tiredness, he only lifted it when a treat was offered. However, noticing the darker stable they were approaching, his interest piqued, the stallion looked up and instead of trotting behind the stable hand, walked alongside him, almost seeming eager to get in a new stall.

As quiet as Cathlynn was, it was easy to miss her her manuscript in front of her, and the isles of books behind her almost looked like a painting. She was so still except the occasional movement of her hand. A slight yawn escaped her lips and she blinked lightly. Her brain searched for the last time she slept during the day. She couldn't remember. Raising to her feet she gathered the manuscript and headed towards the thrown room. Slidding through the halls like a snake in the weeds. She dodged the light and slipped into her dark, cool, sanctuary. The only room better than this was her own chambers. Sitting down in her seat and looked around, so the king had left; this left no witnesses. A small smile came over her face as she sat the manuscript to the side and moved her work a little. Laying her head down she yawned lightly before her eyes started to close.


Lance grinned at the stallion got excited. Maybe this would help him out. Opening up a newly emptied stall and letting the stallion in it. The stall was clean with a nice soft layer of hay on the floor. Sliding the rope of the horses mussel the stable hand gave him another handful of treats and locked the horse in. Watching to see if he took to the new dark surroundings better.

Julian was outside for quite some time with the two dogs. They went all over the grounds, through the flower gardens and even the small wooded area behind the castle where several of the knights usually trained. When he finally returned the dogs to the kennels it was almost lunch time and, not liking the idea of having to eat through one of his fathers rants, chose to skip lunch and returned to the throne room. He noticed Cathlynn but at first he assumed she was reading, but at a closer inspection he noticed she seemed to have dozed off.

Once in the stall Thunder moved to the back where it was darkest and brayed loudly. After eating the few treats he was given as he was locked in, he had a sniff around his new sleeping quarters and eventually settled down for his first peaceful sleep in months.

Cathlynn stirred slightly when she heard the thrown room doors open. Her eyes opened a little and for a second she blinked rapidly. Sitting up she covered her mouth with the back of her hand as she yawned. Standing slowly she smoothed out her dress and then took in her surroundings. Her face twisted into a look of puzzle meant, and the worried look kids got when they thought they were caught doing something wrong. Her mind still being a little slow she bowed a little before sitting back down. "Your Highness did you enjoy your walk?" Asked before trying to hold back a second yawn.


Lance watched the horse for a few minutes before looking mighty proud of himself. Walking out of the darkened area and closing the door behind him he walked out and took a few more horses to their stalls before starting to clean Thunder's he could use it for another horse after this. Quietly the stable hand whistled to keep himself in high spirits as he did his labor intensive job.

"I did, it was both pleasant and peaceful. Did you enjoy your nap?" Julian asked with a hint of amusement in his voice as he took his rightful place upon the throne. "You know, you don't need to be here during the day, I know your kind usually prefers to sleep. We've a vampire guard too and she spends most of the day asleep." He said, not wanting her to force herself to stay awake if she really wanted to sleep. Not alot happened during the day anyway, most meetings were held in the evenings now a days anyway.

(( -has nothing to put here until the evenings and it would be strange to skip this bit to evening and have the other stay as day- =D ))

Nodding in understanding Cathlynn listened. "Yes, it was peaceful. Though we have a bad case of shufflers around here." She said with a bit of a smile. "As for sleeping. Well I can adapt its just taken longer than I expected and sometimes giving into nature is to tempting to pass up." She stated moving around now to wake herself up fully she walked around a little close enough for him to hear still. "As for my kind, I care not on the guard my job requires that I be awake before you go to make the decisions not after or at the time of. My mind isn't that fast. And finally, and I say this with all the respect of the world.." She said walking forward her arms crossed and staring at him with a serious face. "...Young man I am older than you and by far wiser. Your actions have little to no influence on my actions. So it'd be wise to get the idea out of your head." She said with a pointed finger at him. He always took a tone of voice whenever he felt as if he might be causing someone to do something that didn't need to be done. So she wanted to politely correct him on that matter.

Julian didn't want to tell her what to do, but if she was falling asleep like this, surely it was better for her to be in bed than at a desk? "Even so, there are no decisions to make as of yet. Until the other kingdoms king makes a move we've nothing to do." Though he did have to make a public appearance later on as the Harvest festival was due to begin in a couple of days. This was always his favourite time of year, changing of the seasons, harvest of the crops and of course, the best ale of the year. Arching a brow as she pointed at him, Julian offered a small smile. "Older and wiser you may be, but I am king and my word in this kingdom is the law." Though he wasn't going to throw his authority around with Cathlynn, she was more than capable of doing as she pleased, he just didn't like the idea of keeping her awake during the day. "Have you made any progress with the land?"

The king was not in a particularly good mood, the land issue was not making any progress. The adviser had suggested several time that they perhaps share the land with the other kingdom, but he was having none of it! The land was his and he was damn well going to claim it as his own. Peaceful or not. Several of his senior knights and a handful of trained soldiers were sent to set up camp on the land to keep an eye on the enemy. Oseye was woken and informed she'd be joining them. Oh.. the joy. The king had even provided her with a thick cloak and scarf to keep her protected from the sun. Once the camp was set up she'd be able to retire to one of the tents until dusk. Biting back a yawn, she threw on the cloak and made sure she pulled up the hood, casting her face in shadow.

Cathlynn sighed some and didn't have a good enough come back for that. Rubbing her head a little she walked over and pulled out several maps. "Well there are two shared laws that we can use maybe, unless someone in their kingdom was alive and can recall the claiming of all land past the river we can take this half." She said pointing to the side of the river that was nearest their kingdom. "If we want the rest we'll need to negotiate further. If you want you can take that and try and move forward." She suggested with a sigh. "My advice see if anyone can accuratly recall the claiming of the land then have them tell you the story backwards. IF its so then we're back at square one. If its not then that much is ours." She stated slipping back so a ray of light from an open door avoided her.


Things had gotten very busy all of a sudden and Lance and the other stable hands were prepairing the horses to get them ready for some camp or whatever. Sighing as he put another saddle on a black horse he quickly got it strapped on and the bridal and other pieces on it. Checking the horses shoes he handed it over to be taken out. He looked at the list he was given. Thunder? That was going to suck. Sighing the young man walked over into the dark quiet stables and headed towards Thunders stall.

"I really can't see why the land can't be split in half." Julian said with a sigh. Though after everything his father and the opposing king had said and done over the past few years, sharing was no longer an option. Ugh.. why were proud men such idiots? "We've already tried asking around, the only ones that can actually recall are elderly and losing their minds or have hit the bottle." So they weren't exactly accurate and each gave a different account of things.

Even with her face covered in the shadow her hood provided, her eyes were just about visiable if one were to look close enough. No longer their usual sky blue but instead a dark shade of red - a sure sign that she was either tired, annoyed or hungry. Given the current situation, tired and annoyed seemed the likely choices. Thunder was fast asleep, snoring peacefully as his large body leant against the back of his stall. Oblivious to what was going on, it would seem.

Sighing the adviser shrugged. "I have no idea your highness, I have asked that question every night for the last couple years. It still hasn't become clear yet." She said softly rubbing her head lightly. "If they can't recall we can safely take up to the river with out an extream backlash." As she spoke she pulled the vale tucked behind her silver head piece down over her face. "I will double check my findings and make sure they cannot fight it violently. Lets avoid a battle." She said grabbing the manuscript and getting ready to walk to the library again. "And then after that I'll retire to my room if you would prefer." She added simply.



The stable hand grabbed a bridal and took a deep breath as he knew startling a horse could end up with him being kicked out of the stall. He tapped the door lightly trying to stir the sleeping beast.