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 Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 10:46 am
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"If I may call you Demeter... It is alright. I didn't mean Blake when I referred to his wishes... I meant his brother." Gwen let out a small sigh. "Xerxes. Such a bright, kind child. When their mother was killed shortly after Blake's turning, Xerxes vowed to protect his younger brother. Oh, they were inseparable. Xerxes was going to be a good king. Everyone adored him. He was so kind, so thoughtful... He read almost all of the time. When he wasn't reading, he was playing the organ or playing with Blake."
Gwen kind of went on a sort of nostalgic expression. "You must try to understand, my queen. Blake isn't as cold as he seems. As a boy... Though he was more serious than his brother, he cared so deeply for everything his brother did. Blake and Xerxes made plans together. Xerxes was going to be king, and Blake was going to lead the warriors. He was going to be the second-in-command, the general. He was going to be the iron fist behind Xerxes' warm dreams and sweet promises. Many, if not all of Xerxe's ideals were imbedded into Blake... And I know, though I've become so distant, that Blake wants nothing more than his brother's dream to succeed. It was ludicrous, to say the least... But if anyone could do it, Xerxes could."
Gwen looked down and sighed. "I was just a concubine. But I loved those boys like they were my own. I loved the queen deeper than any spite towards being just a woman to Havonmir. I was a tool used for power. But the queen was his jewel; his choice among all else to have children with. Of course, it was an honor. And if I wasn't given that title, I would have never taken care of such wonderful, glorious boys. When Havonmir murdered his wife... And later his son... I died twice that day. But Blake could never let it go. Blake had his own dreams. To have one woman, to lead the army but raise a family, safely and away from the watchful, demanding eye of politics. Those were the sacrifices Xerxes was going to make. For the sake of our country. I was as surprised as anyone at that time when Blake made it known HE was going to fight for the crown. But I knew why. Because Xerxes trusted no one else. Blake sacrificed all his dreams to make sure that his brother's came true. I remember... Blake started distancing himself. From his friends. From his feelings. He destroyed anything of his that would make him weak against his father. He forced himself to become invincible by letting no one in..."
Gwen's hand went up to her cheek. "I knew every one of Blake's favorite things. He destroyed everything that reminded himself of his brother except for a book, but I don't know where that went... He could have destroyed that, later. Blake turned his brother's room into an observatory... Somewhere he never goes. He put Xerxes' organ up there. Everything else doesn't exist anymore. Blake will no longer go out on picnics like he used to do, he never eats gremlin fish anymore; his favorite meal. He just... Shut down from everything. Out of fear. King Blake now has more on his shoulders than ever. Now that he's succeeded in being king, I can't imagine how scared he must feel of failing his brother. And somehow failing Merthage."
Gwen looked up at Demeter. "I do not think Blake thinks of you the way you might have been led to assume. I think, if anything, he's afraid of you. If he lets his guard down for a second, it could prove to be his doom. And the doom of Merthage. And the doom of his dreaming brother's wish. He's afraid you might lead him astray and fog his judgement. Because there was a boy named Blake a long time ago that wanted a wife and children. But then Havonmir destroyed everything. A king cannot just simply have a family. A king belongs to his people. And only his people."
Anasophia looked down. She sort of understood. She had no idea Demeter thought Blake cared more about her than his queen. Then again, Xerxes was known for being the mercy of humans. Perhaps his feelings towards her was of keeping his brother's wishes. Maybe all there was to Blake was not trying to fail his older brother. Anasophia tried to think of a time that a king had only a wife and children, but could only think of one... And he was murdered, only after about a year of rule. If you didn't instill fear and dominance, then you were dominated. Its kill or be killed. If Blake changed everything, so many people would object... There could be a civil war, or worse... A mutiny. Like that one king that tried to ban concubines and create the 'one for one' rule. She shook her head, not liking the idea of Blake's body impaled through the heart by a pointed stick imbedded in the ground for the town to see, or his head stuffed with garlic on a pole. Demeter would be killed too, since she is queen. Then what would happen to the rest of them?
"What I hate is the thought of leaving you," Lance admitted, "But... Okay. I won't talk about it anymore." He looked over at Flopsy and saw the red dress. He smiled a little. "That's very beautiful, my princess. Almost as beautiful as you are."
Salcie liked having this power over someone. He chuckled, stroking both ears and standing right behind him. "Am I distracting you, my sweet little meal?"
'Yes... They look different... Depeeending on the meal.' Vinegar admitted, and then noticed Ethan caring for the child. When he suggested they ask S.V. Vinegar became nervous, but reminded himself that S.V. wasn't to be feared. He would be gentle with the baby, he was sure of it.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 10:55 am
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:13 am
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:26 am
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Gwen looked a little nervous, and she had a hard time knowing where to put her hands, but she nodded. "Yes, milady. Though I should warn you, if it were anyone else I would strongly recommend against it. That area of the castle has been abandoned... For so long."
She stood up and bowed, leading Demeter up to the topmost floor. Guards and nobles on the way up seemed perplexed, but cared little... Until one guard noticed they were going to the very top. "Ah, I'm sorry, miladies, are you lost?"
"No, thank you," Gwen told the eight foot tall talking tiger, "But we know exactly where we're going."
The guy looked unsure, but nodded. "I'll be down here... In case you need anything." He recognized Demeter and bowed to her. "Your majesty."
Anasophia kept herself close to Demeter, not wanting to leave her majesty alone just in case she needed support... Morally as well as any other. But she knew her place, and kept quiet.
Gwen led Demeter up to the final staircase and opened the door. The room was huge; bigger even than Blake's room, and he was the king. There were windows all around, and nearly all of the inhabited lands could be seen. Ahead of them on the other wall was an organ, in good shape, if but dusty and out-of-tune. There was a small bookshelf with only about twelve or twenty books on it, and to the left where the bed lay, on the pillow was a small picture of a man. He looked like Blake in many ways, but had black hair and hazel eyes. His hair was longer. He was probably about Blake's age now. He smiled in the portrait... Despite that being considered very unfitting for a portrait. The rest of the room was bare. This was closest thing Blake had to a sanctuary. But he never came up here. Just that it was there was enough for him.
'If you trust him,' Vinegar replied, 'So do I.' He was ready to follow Ethan to talk to S.V.
Salcie leaned over to see the picture of himself, and he grinned. "I'm so devilishly handsome. I guess I'll let you finish. But remember, you belong to me. So don't think I'll be nice to you ALL the time."
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 5:29 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 6:18 am
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 2:50 pm
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 5:46 pm
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:27 pm
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Lance's eyes softened. "I'm sorry," He whispered. Loss was a terrible thing, of course he knew that. Lance didn't mind the name; it seemed to make everyone happy, so he didn't have a problem with it. So Michael was his name. He held S.V's hand.
Vinegar, usually cautious around bouncy, excited types, felt that Flopsy truly would be gentle with the child, and though he was nervous, her desire to hold him felt overwhelming. So he looked to Ethan for the verdict. Vinegar was aware that, for the whole time he looked after it, it never responded or grew, only lived. Now with Ethan, it grew. And more people still, it grew larger still. It needed attention from all types, and if that's what the child needed, Vinegar was alright with giving that to him. He was Ethan's surprise, and felt joy in sharing a precious thing with this beautiful alien who he loved.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:16 pm
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Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 6:08 am
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Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:43 am
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Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:30 am
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Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:51 pm
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Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:04 pm
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