Welcome to Gaia! ::

She couldn’t be more excited. Events and banquets had always been something of excitement for Victoria and even as a young lady of the courts in the holy lands she had enjoyed such things. Until of course her family had been edged out due to their… impurities as defined by the false queen… both sides of the family were not of the holy lands but were a union of two kingdoms. It hadn’t been an issue with the original king and Victoria had grown up alongside princess Arista, their father’s age old friends… all of that changed though when the king and most of his family had been poisoned during a celebration. Victoria’s family had made it out unscathed but were suddenly entangled in a mess, a move for control over the kingdom and its throne. Lives… even some of her brothers own lives had been snatched away.

Those had been horrible days and when the dust had settled a new king sat upon the throne. Everyone knew that he was nothing more than a puppet. A man who was controlled by the strings of his advisor, people were worried but dare not breathe a word against the man less they end up in the stockade…. And as the new kings wife died, power shifted. His advisor had become more centered, grounding her feet into the position of queen within years of the woman dying in childbirth… and just when people thought it couldn’t get worse… it did. Noella had begun to banish and chase people out and Victoria and her family were one of the first to go. They had supported the king, had tried to help the true queen of the throne and were therefore enemies in the eyes of this new queen. Victoria hated her but was glad to be gone from a kingdom that held such heaviness in the way of the heart. Even the kings own children were downtrodden and lived what appeared to be an extremely falsified happiness.

They had thought perhaps it was over when returning to the shimmering woods, Queen Romilda had welcomed them with open arms, had reinstated their titles and opened up their estates and lands once more. It was a good and prosperous time until her family fell ill. All of them struck down by some mysterious illness and though the best physician in the lands had come to help Lord Gregory could not even help them, he had determined though that they had been poisoned and Victoria had only been spared as she was in another kingdom visiting Arista at the time. The girls had been friends since they were children and being in two separate kingdoms had not changed such things.

And why… why had she been thinking of such dark times? Such horrible moments in her life. Because you have to be reminded! To remember that no matter how good things are… they can change in the blink of an eye… and they had… hadn’t they? “Yes, yes they have.” She whispered to herself as she inspected the dress that her servants were helping her into. “You may have leave of me, thank you Matilda.” Those words had escaped her as she smoothed down the rich silk that covered her minute frame. Tonight they were in Zuiyo-Maru as part of Queen Romilda’s entourage to celebrate the knights that would honor their kingdoms in the tournament. It was a grand affair really and Victoria actually looked forward to it. It was a peaceful area that all were welcomed to and even Noella had no say in what went on in those places. It was a sanctuary if you will. Victoria enjoyed watching the knights and especially enjoyed seeing that women were now welcomed onto the field of battle. Their kingdom was blessed to have such in Tanja, Ser Erich’s wife. “Ah but the blood runs deep through both kingdoms” she was smiling as she spoke to herself. Tanja was originally of the kingdom they were guests in and the Queens were related through marriage. “but I am reminiscing again… and talking to myself.” No wonder no one has offered their hand in marriage to you Victoria, you’ll die a spinster at this rate. Perhaps she would…. But it was dangerous to get close to her anyways. Everyone she ever loved… they’d died.

Still she couldn’t dwell on such things, no! She had finally moved towards the doors and headed down the hall and towards the noise of the festivities. People had already arrived in droves and Victoria was interested in watching for the most part, though eyes had lit up as she noticed Arista and Sascha and she couldn’t help but take quick steps in their direction, a cheerful smile upon her face as she greeted Sascha with a polite nod and Arista with a kiss to each cheek. “You look absolutely beautiful my dear. I do hope Sascha is taking good care of you?” Idle chatter of course but Victoria wasn’t one to speak of anything deep whilst out in public. Her serious conversations would be reserved for when she could get Arista alone. “So many knights here, oh I see Lord Gregory. I should say hello at some point.” A breath of air then as she tried to relax a little. She always felt… as if she had to keep looking over her shoulder. It really was a terrible way to live wasn’t it?

The dress was a point of frustration for Mala, but this was what proper people did she supposed. Ymir had wanted to make a point that they were a land capable of playing all roles in life. They were fierce, they were noble, they could be proper, vicious, beautiful and deadly all at the same time. They were better than the other kingdoms because they had the ability to adapt. The most dangerous people were the ones that could blend into any environment that they were placed in and it was something that Mala had to learn even if it meant wearing dresses and pretending to be a lady. Thankfully she hadn’t decided to don war paint this evening as it wouldn’t fit the standards of what they were going for. “The blood of the fallen staining ones clothes is honorable. I give them honorable deaths.” She wasn’t one to go killing women, children or the weak. Unless the woman was as fierce as she was of course. Hendrik was offering his advice and Mala was grateful to have someone like him near her. His intelligence and his words were always welcomed. Others might have seen Hendrik as less of a man because he was so gentle, never having found that bloodlust that the rest of them sought out. He was better than that. He would be a leader one day. She was sure of it. Of course she had to speak of the disdain of her dress and how she felt it was something that made her appear soft. He’d like to see the man… and finally Mala chuckled, low and throaty. “Aye, it would be something to see wouldn’t it?” No one had dared try. Most gave her wide berth. She was fine with that as well.

The knock on the door had interrupted their conversation and she had been brusque with the girl, her words sharp and blunt. A knife? She looked as she if might consider such an action but that would only make Hendrik frown at her more. The king? “He is honorable. He recognizes the strength of the clans. I like him.” For her to admit such a thing was… a big deal as it took a lot for Mala offer anyone her true support. One generally had to prove their worth to the woman before she gave them respect. Honor for honor, respect for respect. It was simply how things were played out in her eyes.

She’d stumbled, a hiss of anger escaping her as she nearly killed herself in the dress and Hendrik spoke once more. “Yelena would try to have me flayed me if I tore the dress. She had it made especially for this occasion.” Mouth had curved into a smile then, white teeth flashing almost dangerously as she spoke of them wearing dresses next time. “I would pay to see it regardless.” A laugh as they exited the room and headed down the hallway.

Mala did have a short fuse, her temper was well known throughout the clans as it nearly rivaled her tenacity. She hadn’t brought the set of dire wolves that were her companions with her but knew they were not far behind anyhow. They would wait for her clansmen on the forests edge an join them for their travel to the tournament grounds. Hendrik was one of the few who could diffuse her temper, the twins generally added fire if they were about but Hendrik…. He could calm her in just about any situation that came up. He simply had that way about him.

She’d paused then to speak to him about a woman and he’d sputtered at her. Wondering why she would even say such a thing. She’d actually hesitated a moment, her brow creasing slightly. “We need heirs. You will outlive me.” She couldn’t see herself having children. Not when she was sure her life would be a short and violent one. She could die at any moment, at any point during a raid or in war but Hendrik? She hoped that his life would be hearty and long, not filled with tragedy or heartache. She wanted the best for him. Only him.

She’d left him on those words to approach the king who had beckoned her over and she’d made her approach, her head dipping slightly in a respectful nod towards him. “Your grace. This dress is miserable and lacks the room it takes to walk properly. Small steps are necessary.” She had glanced around then, as if taking in the others about. “If needed the dress can be… changed.” The promise was there though unsaid. She would rip that dress and take down anyone she saw as a threat to their leader. He had asked her to introduce her clansmen to him. She had turned slightly, head tilting a bit before she simply nodded in the direction of her people, such a motion was all that she had ever needed to summon them to her side. Their clan had always been in tune with each other… these were people Mala trusted with her life above any others. Hendrik, Yelena, Sasha, Lucan, Vladmir. “My brother Hendrik is one of the smartest in our clan. He is also bonded to a dragon. Yelena and Sasha are the twins and my oldest friends, they are also bonded to a dragon. We have fought many hard battles together and succeeded. Lucan and Vladimir… I am sure you have heard of their craft. They are the most sought after armor smith and weapon smith in all of the kingdoms. Should you need their skill I am certain they would be honored to help with such.” There was pride in her voice as she spoke of each person. Their clan was a close knit one and would always be as such. “We are at your service.” There was no promises of grandeur, no posturing or words with no meaning. Mala was to the point. Ymir had already earned their fealty. They were here. It said something about their King.

Still, Ymir himself was more chieftain than king. He himself was not one who lived in these southern parts. The warmth was not for him. No, Ymir yearned for the cold just as any of them. He was perhaps in his heart just as wild as well. It made him likeable to the clans. He had given them a voice, a reason to follow him and they would. They would follow him to their very deaths. She waited for her people to approach, a look of pride upon her face and when they reached the two, Mala would be giving proper introductions.