09-10-2012, 07:35 PM
Selena Morton made her way down the stone stairs, a difficult job when she was one her own. Putting the foot of her crutch down firmly on each step before she descended, the former knight slowly reached the bottom. The heavy wooden door that marked the entrance to "Raven's Abode" as it was called in the castle, was closed. She tried the handle and managed to move the door a few inches before it hit something on the other side.
"Raven." Selena said pushing slightly harder. Whatever was on the other side groaned in defiance. When there was no answer, Selena pushed her weight on the door and it crashed inside, breaking the chair that had been carelessly tossed in front. Catching herself before she fell, Selena looked about the musty room.
The sunlight was streaming in from the single window, revealing dust bits floating around and alighting on the books, papers, ingredients, and potions. And, standing in the middle of this room of organized chaos was Raven Payne.
Selena owed everything to Raven. It was just a couple years ago that the witch had been captured by a group of knights who were scouting out positions of the troops of the king from a neighboring kingdom. Moody as she was, Raven had saved Selena's life just three days after her capture. The act had probably saved Raven's life as well.
She stood, pouring over an old book, her black hair falling past her pale face. Though Raven considered herself a prisoner, she was given every comfort. The workshop itself, as well as clothing, food, and all the tools she needed. Most in her position wouldn't have complained nearly as much.
---------- Post added 09-10-2012 at 02:46 PM ----------
Raven glanced up from her book, an ancient text that was actually a raunchy love story instead of any kind of spell book. There was no smile to greet the knight who spend most of the daylight hours in the same room, but Raven wasn't particularly hostile either, a good sign for anyone bursting in like that.
Raven tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, keeping it out of her face. "Yes?" she asked. There was no way that Selena would leave her alone until she got to say what she wanted to say.
The knight straightened herself. Casting an eye over her garments, Raven realized something important must have been going on. A soft pair of dark trousers and a royal blue tunic were finer than Selena usually bothered to wear. Her ginger hair had been nicely brushed and was tumbling down her back. "The king requests your presence." Selena told Raven.
"Why?"
"The prince's birthday." Selena reminded the witch.
"Oh..." Raven turned back to her book. "Tell him I'm busy."
Selena hobbled her way over to Raven and poked her shoulder. "He demands it." she said.
Raven laughed. "Yes and he sends his cripple knight to enforce his demands." Selena's face almost immediately melted. And strangely enough, so did Raven's heart. "I'm sorry Selena. I just don't like doing things" she said. With a sigh, "Fine. I'll come."
Selena almost immediately perked up. "Yay! You'll need to change though. A twenty-fifth birthday is a big thing...because it's twenty-five..."
And then, less than an hour later, Raven found herself brushed, cleaned, and clothed, standing behind other household people, listening to some bard sing a song. A serving maid passed and Raven grabbed a hold of one of the tankards she was carrying. She didn't want to be here. Next would come the dancing to work up an appetite, then would come the long feast and procession, then, more dancing. Raven figured she could slip out after the food was eaten. Most people wouldn't talk with her unless they had to, and Raven wouldn't talk to anyone, even if she did have to. Hard to believe she had even bothered to dress up. A long velvet black dress was what she wore, her hair pinned behind her shoulders. It had been annoying enough to get everything on, soon she'd just have to take it off again.
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