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maidenroseheart
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#26
Old 03-24-2014, 12:54 PM

Seeing him yawn, she felt duty bound to decline. Not to mention, he was kinda the law and she shouldn't meddle with the law. "I can see you are tired. I don't want to impose on you." Though it would be nice for both the company and to have him where she can see him.

***

Seeing Athena leave in a huff, Derrick guessed that the talk didn't go well. This was verified when the young prince led his four new friends to the stable. Following with a tray of glasses, he overheard them picking out which horses to ride at sunset to the nearby gambling house. Mentally sighing, he figured the banquet tomorrow night would be a good reason to keep the boys here instead of out about the countryside.

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#27
Old 03-24-2014, 05:29 PM

" It's no problem at all." Erik said with a soft smile " I don't mind besides if something happened to you after I left you I would feel terrible." he frowned softly " It really is dangerous out here even for someone as trained as I am." he sighed softly.

((Can't think of anything else to put T-T sorry.))

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#28
Old 03-27-2014, 01:44 AM

((I'll try to give the story more food for thought to help out.))

Seeing that she wasn't going to shake his company, Tracy felt somewhat relieved. This way she had no choice but to avoid the money she had hidden. Also, she could use the help. "Well, if you are intent on keeping safe, I could use another pair of arms. The castle is holding a banquet tomorrow night and with sundown approaching, I was unsure how to gather the amount of foliage I needed to finish the decorations."

*****

As the boys rode out of the stables towards the gate and road, Derrick quietly made his way back inside. The first thing he did, under the guise of making sure things was in order, was to check on the luggage the four boys brought. Nothing stood out at a customary glance. He would have to check further later.

Stopping by the kitchen, he learned where Athena had settled. Putting together a tray of delicate delights such as fruit slices, cackers, cheeses, and small sandwich bites with the help of one of the kitchen staff, it was only a matter of minutes before he was walking down the hall with a tray double stacked. Reaching the sitting room where Athena sat forlonely with her mother, Derrick quietly walked in. Stepping softly so as to not disturb the ladies, he set the tray on the coffee table. Placed the top layer of drinks down and then removing the snacks as well, he quickly set up the table to provide a quiet supper. Hopefully Athena could relax a little. Her mother as well.

Stepping back and against the back wall, he was quiet. His normally vigilant gaze distracted by the princess. So he didn't notice the dark shapes outside the window creeping by.

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#29
Old 03-27-2014, 02:12 AM

" I'll help just point out the ones you want." Erik grinned sheepishly " I'm afraid naming them won't do you have to show me." He didn't know many planets just the ones to put on open cuts and burns.

Athena and her mother laughed at talked about her little brother being. They both thanked Derrick when he brought the food and began to nibbled delicately on the things he had brought. Movement at the window caught Athena's eye but she thought it was a trick of light so she ignored it.

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#30
Old 03-27-2014, 02:18 PM

Laughing at the thought, she agreed, "Then pointing it is." Walking along the road until she reached the path to the apple orchard, she said, "This is my favorite route. There are all kinds of plants along it." Already there was quite a few of the more vine-variety that she would need. Bending down and pulling out her boot knife, she easily clipped off long pieces. Replacing her knife, she stood and offered them to him, "Oh, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Tracy, the local herbalist."

*****

Derrick was enjoying the sound of their laughter when the door opened. Lord McCarthy, their guest for the month, casually walked in and smiled, "Ladies, a pleasant treat to here such pleasant laughter." He was very charming and easily strolled over to kiss each of their hands. Derrick found himself smiling automatically at Lord McCarthy. Yet in the back of his mind, he remembered the conversation he had overheard. Charming and a political genius.

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#31
Old 03-27-2014, 02:30 PM

" Erik...knight." Erik said with a chuckled " Kind of obvious but." he shrugged " Sometimes people think I'm a ruffian." he gestured to his plain cloths and sword. " Maybe I would be if I wasn't a knight." he examined the plant she handed him '' What's it called?" he asked curious.

" Lord McCarthy what a pleasant surprise." Her mother said with a casual smile " What brings you to the ladies domain?" she glanced at the corner where a knight stood in the shadows allows wherever the queen was a knight or two weren't far. Athena had to admire her mother will she breathed at walked like a hostess something about her gave off a warning air not to mess with her.

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#32
Old 03-27-2014, 09:11 PM

Grinning as she walked on, she answered, "An Ivvy vine. They are great as small pieces of larger floral arrangements or as a background of another prop." Seeing an assortment of flowers, she carefully looked them over and snipped off the better ones of each kind. Ahead the sound of a waterfall could be heard. "I'll pick up some water flowers for the tables up there, here, hold these." Putting the flowers she snipped into his arms, she walked quickly on ahead.

*****

Lord McCarthy straightened and casually took a seat in an armchair. "I was famishing for company and it seems that the men have disappeared somewhere and the boys are off on a ride. So I figured I couldn't ask for a more pleasant solution to my problem than to find you ladies." Pausing, he glanced over at Athena, "Princess, I heard that the boys who arrived today ruffled your feathers. Are you alright?"

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#33
Old 03-28-2014, 02:47 AM

" Nothing I couldn't handle my lord." Athena said with a soft smile " They are just boys after all." Her mother laughed " You remember what being there age was like don't you my lord?" she grinned at him " I certainly remember what the king was like when he was younger."

Erik carefully carried the flowers not wanting to drop them " Well I'm not allergy to them so that's good." he chuckled. " It would be very bad if I was allergy to them."

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#34
Old 03-28-2014, 07:10 PM

She grimaced in realization. "Are you allergic to anything?" Reaching the sparkling pond with the waterfall at one end, she paused. She didn't want to burden him with more stuff if it might cause a bad reaction.

*****

Lord McCarthy shook his head, "Ah boys will be boys. They are more your younger brother's age, it is true." Suddenly a thoughtful look crossed his face. "But there are two close to your age." Allowing a dawning light to raise in his eyes, he looked towards Athena in wonderment, "by the stars, Stan and Jerry are your age."

Derrick wanted to throw wine in his face. He wasn't just realizing this. Lord McCarthy had already known, and planned, for such a situation. But to say anything would reveal that he knew more than he should. How does a butler explain being behind a curtain, hiding, in another person's room? Even the Queen would be upset and probably dismiss him.

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#35
Old 03-28-2014, 11:27 PM

" Of course they are my lord." Athena said with a half smile " But that does not change the fact that they are rude." " Athena!" Her mother said warningly though she too had heard the rumors around these boys and wanted them no where near her daughter if she could help it. " Sorry mother." Athena said looking away but she wouldn't apologize to Lord McCarthy.

" No plants that I know of a few foods." Erik shrugged " I mean you generally come in contact with a lot of things as a knights so you can't be allergic too to much or your in trouble." he chuckled " I'm allergic to idiots." he grinned.

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#36
Old 03-29-2014, 01:41 AM

Lord McCarthy frowned and sympathetically supplied, "I heard that Stan came to your defense and kept the younger ones from harassing or embarrassing you further. Have you properly thanked him?" Turning to the Queen, he gently asked, "Isn't it a part of the Princess' training to always return thoughtful acts, especially that of kindness?"

Derrick quietly stepped forward to remove the tray of snacks he had placed down earlier. Lord McCarthy was good. That was for sure. Giving the conversation a momentary break so everyone could think by his very motions, he soon had the tray and remains back up and walked to the door where a servant waited to transport it away. The wine and glasses still sat on the coffee table.

*****

Grinning at that remark, Tracy prompted, "And there are how many of those in this world?" She reached down and pulled up some water lilies carefully and set them in her basket. Motioning further down the path, she supplied, "That way is the apple orchard. It's going to be dark soon, so we should head back. I rather not be outside the village after dark." Silently, she added, "At least not without a costume and mask to hide who I am.

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#37
Old 03-29-2014, 01:47 AM

Athena stiffened but her mother cut her off " You will not question my daughters upbringing in front of me when you can not control your boys around her." the queen snapped standing " If they so much as look at her the wrong way you and your boys will find yourself without a friend in this kingdom before you can even say oops." she pulled Athena to her feet " Come I do not wish to be in this room anymore." her mother pulled them away.

" There are more then you can even imagine." Erik chuckled softly " More then I even thought was possible." he snorted then blinked realizing she was right about how late it was. " You are right." he sighed " I will help you get this stuff to wherever then I plan on sleeping." he yawned.

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#38
Old 03-30-2014, 07:35 PM

Lord McCarthy stood as she did as it was proper courtesy. "May I remind the Queen that they are not my boys, not related to me, nor here on my invitation. If you have issues with them, take them up with your husband who issued the invitations. Also, to threaten me who has upheld all courtesy and kindness is very unkind. I hope you are not so unkind to all your allies."

Then with a note of regret, he added, "Princess, I apologize for any grievance I caused you. And do not worry about returning the kindness you owe Stan. I see now that someone else will have to fulfill that part of your obligations. So you need not worry." Then he went quiet. They were leaving and nothing changed that.

Derrick watched with the practiced art of not watching. If the Queen exploded this easily, then it would not be hard for Lord McCarthy to cause it to happen again. At the banquet. Especially if it appeared that the ruling family was unstable. After all, a person was not ruler by right alone. They had to pay for it. Gain or earn allegiances. And he could see Lord McCarthy finding a passive way to paint the family as ones who didn't fulfill obligations. Such thoughts led to suspicions of weakness and untrustworthiness. Such an uproar would cause chaos among the guests and the possibility for political alliances to shift. He suddenly felt uneasy about the banquet tomorrow night, more so than he had been feeling.

Quietly, he turned and prepared to leave. He needed to contact his employer and relay the news. Make sure that safeguards were in place. Also, Lord McCarthy was very well-liked. That darn charm of his. There would be pay back for her words tonight. Not only did servants talk, but they talked to servants of other people. Then those other people learned of things left behind closed doors. The banquet was not going to be a good event to attend.

*****

"My store would suffice enough," she replied a little dryly. As they headed back, she saw the bridge where he rescued her earlier. The body of the now cold wolf still lay there. She grimaced and walked closer to Erik, death not something she saw often. It wasn't until they were back at her shop that she felt better. Unlocking the door and lighting a lantern, she motioned towards the table. "Anywhere on there works for me."

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#39
Old 03-30-2014, 11:03 PM

Athena stared at the lord then composed herself " I have already thanked Stan for his kindness and you will have to forgive my mother she is with child and she losers her temper sometimes." she jutted her chin out " Or have you failed to notice that." She was use to her mothers outburst when she was with child it always set the queen on edge. " You have upheld nothing questioning my upbringing is very rude." She had her mothers tongue sometimes just then the King walked in " Whats this?" he frowned " Nothing papa." Athena answered her squeezing his arm " Just talk." " Why are you two alone with him?" he scowled " It is nothing my love he just wanted to talk." the queen took his other arm. " You look upset." he looked at Lord McCarthy with a raised eyebrow.

Erik placed the plants on the table and brushed his arms off. He examined the room then her thinking. " I would say it is not wise for a woman to live alone but they way you handle a knife would scare off any potential robbers or other wrong doers." he chuckled.

Last edited by finx15; 03-31-2014 at 12:04 AM..

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#40
Old 03-31-2014, 12:49 PM

Lord McCarthy bowed low before his king. "I am flustered your majesty. We seem to have had a miscommunication. It led to some rather unpleasant words. I am at a loss as to what to think." He paused and wondered if it was polite to say more.

He didn't sit well with the threat the Queen made him. He also didn't think pregnant women was a reason for someone in high office to treat him so unwell. But he would give the Queen allowance right now. It was, after all, not the start of the outburst. So he withheld his complaints against the Queen.

Instead he opted to only relay the beginning of the conversation. "When you expressed a desire for young men for your son to hang out with, and invited the four that you did, you sent them invitations. They came from their families to your home. One of the younger ones was rude towards the Princess. Stan, the oldest, came to her defense. I asked if the Princess had properly thanked the young man. Is it not custom for the royal family to issue an official gift or note?"

Derrick stepped forward and quietly cleared his throat. Seeing he had the King's attention and was not being motioned back, he spoke, "The proper protocol regarding the royal family issuing an official gift or note is for the King or Queen or married representative to do. There are numerous reasons for this, including to avoid the appearance of courtship between two individuals." He paused to allow that implication to sink in.

He saw Lord McCarthy pause too. That was one thing he was sure Lord McCarthy had not wanted the Queen or Princess to think of yet.

Continuing carefully, as he was only a butler, Derrick pointed out another aspect of protocol, "Protocol dictates that such notices of recognition be done in like setting. I am witness: The Princess was offended in the garden by a select few. The Princess was defended in the garden by one of young age and status, comparatively..." he gestured at the King, Queen, and Lord McCarthy. "The Princess thanked Stan in the garden as was appropriate at the time. So according to protocol, any further measure of thanks should come as a very small gift or a short note from the King or Queen in private. According to protocol." He bowed and stepped back.

Derrick kept a carefully neutral face. This should keep Lord McCarthy from publicly awarding Stan for helping Athena when they have the banquet. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep any praise from leaving Lord McCarthy's lips. Words couldn't be avoided. But the fanfare could be.

Lord McCarthy nodded thoughtfully. It made sense. Shrewd sense. He would have to keep a closer eye on this butler. This butler might be more than he seemed. However, he could still drop comments at the banquet. Both of Stan's good character towards Athena and of the Queen's unstableness. If rumors started that the Queen turned on her own allies, it would hurt the entire royal family. He had a plan and every intention of carrying it out. No one would suspect him. Could suspect him. He was, after all, well beloved by royalty and nobility alike.

*****

Outside, dark shadows carefully scaled the walls up to a certain room. Once inside, they carefully selected hiding places.

*****

She shrugged, "I just have practice at cutting plants. We all know that plants are not people. I live to help heal people, not hurt them." She glanced curiously at Erik. "You are pretty easy going and helpful for being related to the palace. Most others would not have helped out beyond the wolf. Yet you helped with the plants. Why?"

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#41
Old 03-31-2014, 06:19 PM

" Oh dear did I upset you my lord?" The queen sighed and placed her hand on her stomach " I will have to give you a small gift as apology. Lynn get the bottle of scotch for the lord." A tiny maid who had entered with the king hurried off " And bring paper." The king called after her. Athena scowled at Derrick she hated protocol sometimes " I think it best that I have papa give him the note." she choose wisely taking her mothers arm " You should not be standing mama." The queen shook her head " I'm alright." Lynn come back with scotch and paper and pen " Here my lord forgive me for my quick tongue I am not normally like that." she looked tiredly at her stomach " You should not make mother so upset." she chided with a smile. The king wrote a thank you note to Stan and turned to Lord McCarthy " If you see him send him to me." he said then took his wifes arm " Come my love."

" I'm a knight. We help ladies it's what we do plus my mother raised me right." Erik added with a chuckle then yawned " If you will excuse me." He nodded to her " I must get to bed before I fall over." he slowly walked away.

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#42
Old 04-01-2014, 02:51 AM

Seeing all his plans unfold right before his eyes, Lord McCarthy could do little but stand there and graciously accept the turn of events. He still planned to do something, but it would be harder now. Derrick could see the gears in his brain turning. He had to report these latest events soon. Following the royal family out, he joined in the escort. First things first was to ensure they were all in their rooms safely first.

*****
Watching Erik leave, Tracy wondered how he got through the day being a knight for the nobility. Maybe they weren't as all bad as she had assumed. As soon as he was out of sight, she donned a dark cape and slipped out into the shadows. Working her way from the shop towards home, she noted that no one seemed to be following her. Maybe, if she stuck to the trees where wolves couldn't reach her, she might ambush someone yet tonight on the road.

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#43
Old 04-01-2014, 04:04 AM

Athena frowned noticing something in her room after she had left her parents " Was that shadow there all the time?" she blinked at it getting a very bad feeling. " Maybe I'm seeing things." she hesitated in the doorway.

Erik reach the castle and collapsed into his bed with a groan " I'm so tired." He yawned falling asleep.

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#44
Old 04-02-2014, 02:35 AM

Derrick saw Athena pause and walked up to her. "Princess, perhaps you would like assistance? It appears that the maids forgot to light candles for you." He eyed the room suspiciously. The maids would never forget something so important. He sure hoped that Erik got his note. Athena really needed to have a chaperon.

*****

Seeing that she hadn't been followed, Tracy climbed into the trees as soon as she cleared the village. No way was she taking chances of wolves without Erik around to help her out. Working her way along the road, she found a good place to hide. She would just jump the next person. The sounds of hoof beats in the distance warned her of oncoming travelers. It was a group riding along singing at the top of their lungs. Clearly drunk.

She jumped the last one in line, grabbed his purse and left him there. Slipping into the night time shadows, she grinned as the others assumed he had drunk too much. They turned back and dismounted to help him. It wasn't until all five lay in a heap on the ground that she realized that she had robbed one of them before. The prince. The other four must be the nobility that was visiting. Slapping the hinds of the horses, she sent them running for the castle. Then she climbed into the trees and made way for her hiding place to stash the gold. Gambling sure was a good thing.

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#45
Old 04-02-2014, 02:48 AM

Athena watched him enter her room and followed slowly behind him " It feels like I'm being watched." she frowned softly wishing Erik or one of the other knights was there with them.

Erik turned and noticed the note with a sigh he dispatched a knight to the princess's room. " my lady." the knight greeted Athena kneeling " I have been ordered to be your knight until such a time as we can appoint you a permanent knight."

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#46
Old 04-02-2014, 06:01 PM

Derrick turned and nodded. It appeared that Erik had seen his note. "Here you go Princess, you will have someone outside your door at all times. He will follow you when you leave, so it should be safe." He turned and walked over to the mantle and picked out a reed from the box. Then bending towards the coals, he lit the reed and started to walk around the room to light candles. He had only gotten one lit when a sharp whistle filled the air. Then men leaped out from their hiding places to attack.

Derrick immediately fell back on his training. Unlike the training of knights, he didn't need a weapon. Anything that could be picked up was a weapon. He grabbed one of Athena's crystal glasses that rested by the wine pitcher and broke the top so that the cup had a jagged edge. Then he shoved it into the face of the man attacking him. That guy would never see again. Using his elbow to hit the side of the man's neck, he fell to the floor in a heap. Turning, he took on another.

*****

Knowing that the five horses would be reaching the castle at any moment, she hurried through the woods as fast as she could. It was hard going finding a path via tree branches only but she managed to finally reach the village. Dropping to the ground and keeping to the shadows of bushes and buildings, she inched her way through the dark night. She was almost home when the mood came out from behind clouds, clearly lighting the area. Groaning, she slipped across the street as normally as she could and went into her home.

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#47
Old 04-03-2014, 02:12 AM

Athena screeched dodging behind her knight pressing herself away from the fighting. She couldn't run they might follow her or there might be more.

Erik heard threw his half sleep a scream and bolted awake. It had sounded like a girl a younger girl he hurried to get dressed and rushed to the princess " Sound the alarm." he ordered a knight noticing the intruder " Find all of them. Don't let them harm the king or queen."

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#48
Old 04-03-2014, 02:23 AM

Derrick expertly broke the neck of the fellow he was tackling with and dropped him to the floor dead. One dead and one prisoner. Perfect. With more knights entering, he stepped back and let them take the last few on. Turning, he glanced at the windows. Walking to one of them, he studied it. "Erik, sir, you need to come see this." He pushed the window open and shifted the bars easily out of place. Looking at Erik, he whispered, "They had inside help. They would not have gotten in if the window had been latched and the bars welded in place. Someone set the Princess up."

Outside voices lifted into shouts. One of the stable hands ran in. "Trouble. The young Prince and his four friends... their horses returned riderless!"

*****

Lighting a lamp, Tracy placed her cloak up on a hook. Then she turned to look around her home. She was tired and didn't feel up to cooking or making a large supper. So she settled for slicing an apple. Apples can be eaten, seeds and all, just fine. So she didn't bother to remove the core. Instead, she settled by the fire with a book and started munching.

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#49
Old 04-03-2014, 02:34 AM

Erik cursed softly " Find the prince and his friends but keep searching the palace for any lingering unwanted guests." he turned to the princess "Are you alright my lady?" he asked her softly.

Athena nodded and headed towards her bathroom she needed to take a moment to recollect. She sighed and splashed herself with water frowning at the screen that divided her from the rest of the room. She felt a hand go over her mouth and struggled.

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#50
Old 04-03-2014, 02:39 AM

Derrick sighed, it had been a long and tiring night. Resuming his role as butler, he hoped no one would question his sudden gift for fighting. Picking up things around the room and straightening, he asked, "Princess, would you like a glass of wine?" Not hearing a reply, worry crossed his face. "Princess?" Stepping towards the screen, he asked, "Princess? Are you alright?"

 


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