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 Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:43 pm
That hadn't been an easy meeting.
As bittersweet as it was to close one of the happiest chapters in her life, Elizabeth knew that it had been the right thing to do. And difficult as it had been to 'explain' to her old friend the new direction that her life was taking, Liz also knew that to have just left would have been the most painful sort of wrong.
That explanation had taken longer than she would have liked, but at least she could be confident that Cajji understood. At first, the Kawani had been merely pleased to see Elizabeth; that pleasure had been followed by surprise at seeing Ambroise, then pleasure at the prospect of meeting another Soquili, only to be followed by confusion as Ambroise stayed on the edge of the compound and Elizabeth went back to stand by him, whickering softly by way of explanation. Seeing that confusion had resulted in Elizabeth taking the ultimate liberty with her new mate, resting her muzzle against his next in an obvious gesture of closeness that made her inwardly blush even as she witnessed the understanding on Cajji's face.
Cajji had been affectionate in her farewell, stroking the mare's neck and speaking her gibberish in a pleasant tone only lightly touched by sorrow. Liz herself had had to fight to remain stoic during the exchange, trying to make it easier for her friend as well as herself.
And in the end, she felt she had accomplished that. As she and Ambroise passed out of view of the campsite, she allowed herself to finally exhale, letting out the breath she hadn't even known she was holding. The first hurdle was passed, and now...
And now, what?
Turning towards Ambroise, she gave the stallion a small smile. "I thank you for your assistance, Ambroise. Without having you to be seen, I think it would have been a great deal more challenging to clarify things with Cajji. She is a good sort..." But she digressed. "And I apologize if I made you at all uncomfortable with my personal liberties; please understand that I in no way desire to make you feel uncomfortable."
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:56 am
Her farewell had taken quite a while, had caused a delay he hadn't originally anticipated but he had long since been aware of the unpredictable nature of humans. On some occasions they picked up things very quickly, on others it took them a bit longer. In this case he would accept that it had taken such a long time because of the nature of their relationship. Unlike many other pairings they were not romantically involved, the closeness was not yet there and for all intents and purpose he did look like a visitor rather than something more. The 'liberty' she had taken to bridge the gap between herself and he was warranted and had assisted in making her point clear. Thankfully, that had been enough for the intelligent human to realise exactly what the mare had been trying to say.
Alas, now that the farewells were over and the stallion found himself moving away from her now former dwellings he was at a bit of a loss. If he was entirely honest he was probably in a mild state of shock. He had gone through with it, that brief moment of spontaneity with a hint of logic had led to this. For all intents and purposes he was married or would be when his parents returned home and the proceedings began. What had he done? It was only as this news sank in that the butterflies began to plague his stomach and caused his muscles to seize up.
Did he regret it?
If he was honest there was a small part of him that did, in essence he felt stifled and a little suffocated. He hadn't even been touched yet! Perhaps it was the awareness that he now had more duties to attend to that weren't necessarily 'routine'. He sincerely doubted that any mare would appreciate the thought of being any sort of routine. Nevertheless, the issue was there and whether he liked it or not he now had responsibility not only to his lands but to his new mate. Wonderful, and to think he had willingly made this decision and at some point had regarded it as a completely sound idea!
Shaking the thoughts from his head he conceded that it wasn't that he doubted his decision, but dwelled too much on the reactions he would receive. Family members would be both delighted and baffled, the teasing which he was accustomed to would be stepped up a notch and now it wouldn't just be about him. More troubling was the awareness of her lack of conditioning to her new surroundings, the cold weather would be a trial for the mare, and whether or not she could cope with his family remained to be seen.
"I am well aware of your intentions," he replied, snapping to attention as she spoke. He shifted his gaze towards her to assure her that he hadn't just been making the right sounds. "Rest assured, I have a higher opinion of you than that." He fell into silence at this and permitted his gaze to return to the horizon. A few moments passed and then he broke the silence once more, something he generally didn't do.
"You have nothing more to prepare, or shall we depart?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:31 pm
If she had been a different sort of mare, Elizabeth might have just remained silent, or made some enthusiastic comment and moved on. Of course, if she were a different sort of mare then it was highly unlikely she would have been in this situation to begin with...
As it was, she remained the sort of mare she had always been: Polite and deferential. The sort of mare, that, for lack of a better and more PC term, was good at beating a dead horse when it came to matters of propriety and social behavior.
However, even with all of that being reality, Elizabeth found herself actually letting the subject drop at Ambroise's reassurance. It wasn't that she entirely believed him. Although that wasn't to say that she DISbelieved him, because she had a high opinion of his honesty...it was just that she didn't know what he thought yet because she didn't know what SHE thought yet, and therefore her first inclination was to be overly solicitous.
But considering the situation, she felt like silence was the best way. It would allow them to acclimate to each other's physical presence without putting too much of a burden on their new relationship in the form of chatter. On top of which, it would give her a chance to try and calm her agitated nerves!
That wish helped her remain concise in her response to her mate's query. "I believe that we can leave. There is nothing more that I need to do here; those that wish to find me will be able to find me even if I move."
In particular, she was thinking of one: Her closest and oldest friend, Zaphiro, who had long since settled with his mate and family in parts far away. It took her days to walk to his home, but with his wings the distance took him but a fraction of the time. On top of that, his loyal familiar Zaris had always been a friend of hers and would no doubt be able to find her were she to move into a cave.
Although that made her think of something important, and after a momentary pause, she asked, "Are visiting familiars welcome in the Islagiatt?" Because Zaris might be able to find her, but realizing where she would now be living made her realize that those who would want to see her would have to go there...and brave its creepy border guard.
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Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:41 am
Oh good - there was a part of him that sincerely doubted he would have been able to deal with further explanations and performances that he was not geared towards. The news that she had no other individuals to speak with was a relief to him and with a nod, he continued forward without sparing another thought towards other individuals who he had anticipated she may wish to see. He was not one to question in that regard and respected that every individual was entitled to their own secrets and choices. If she had concluded that she needed to speak to no one else then rest assured, he wouldn't push her to reconsider. Frankly it worked to his benefit as well; the gods knew he hated to be too social.
Nevertheless he proceeded in the direction of the slopes at a reasonable pace. He was walking at a rate that would be comfortable for her, all too aware that his brisk rate wouldn't necessarily be appreciated. The silence that passed between the pair might have been awkward to some, but he regarded it with a certain level of respect and silent gratitude. She had already realised he was not a soquili of many words and while some might feel they needed to fill the silence with idle chatter, she had taken the high road.
No... He didn't regret this.
"A strange question," he admitted after a few moments had passed. She had broken the silence with her query and initially he wasn't certain he had heard it right. He had initially thought she'd said 'family' and to that he would have pointed out that the answer was obvious, but eventually his mind had cottoned on to the fact she had said 'familiars'. To here there may not have been much difference between the two but given that he didn't know the extent of her 'family' or any of her friends he wouldn't be so quick to make any assumptions.
"Provided the familiars have no malicious intent they are as welcome to visit the region as any other creature would be," he replied. He assumed this was what she had meant and lulled into silence again as he navigated his way here and there. To be honest, he wasn't one hundred percent certain of where he was going when it came to commuting by hoof but he could at least follow the horizon. "I assume you will be expecting a number of visitors if you have queries such as that, yes?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 5:44 pm
Really, it didn't seem like SUCH a strange question when one considered that they would be entering a (to her) heavily guarded territory. Elizabeth's tone and expression were mild, but inwardly she was wincing at the very thought of her friend's familiar meeting up with Venom. Much as she admired Zaris' speed and aerial maneuverability, she didn't want to gamble with his life when it came to outracing that monster!
Ambroise's words were reassuring, however, and she allowed herself to smile as she trotted along at his side. It was a relief to know that there was at least one thing she didn't have to worry about...
Now now, Elizabeth, she chided herself, there is no reason to get dramatic and negative. You are simply being silly. Glancing over at Ambroise, she gave an indeterminate shrug. "I am not sure, to be honest. There are a handful of Soquili I am on friendly terms with, but they are all of transient natures. In all honesty there are only a few I expect with any sort of regularity, but be assured that I would want to make sure of their welcome and safety if there were only one of them."
It was a simple speech, but Elizabeth's earnestness radiated with every word. Unpretentious and honest, inclined to be accommodating and helpful, and always dignified. Such was the mare that Ambroise had decided to welcome into his life, for better or for worse. "I broach the subject because I know that your border guard is rather....dedicated."
She managed to mention Venom without so much as a cringe of distaste; beyond that brief pause it was as though she knew nothing of Venom's nature at all. "I wouldn't want my friends to run into any dangers or cause any disturbances on their way. And my soonest visitor is likely to be a hawk, so you can imagine I want to err on the side of caution."
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:34 am
"That is certainly one way to describe him," Ambroise sounded completely indifferent to her choice of words, but if one looked really close they may have seem a flicker in his eyes. Whether the stallion chose to admit it or not, he was amused - there were few in the world who could read him properly but there were an even smaller number who could be polite when it boiled down to his border guard. 'Dedicated' was definitely not a word that entered the vast majority of soquili's vocabularies when that individual was mentioned, even the most gentle of creatures found it difficult to be quite so polite. In fact, even Ambroise would have been more critical in his analysis of exactly what the other stallion was like.
Really, her description could have been laughable!
"Most prefer the term 'hungry' when they mention him," he admitted after a few moments. Shaking his head, he continued on in silence for another few minutes before speaking again. "That aside he knows his place and is aware that the majority of smaller creatures are there as messengers - he may opt to terrorise, but he will not kill them," he shrugged loosely. "Though I am aware that this will do nothing to comfort you in that respect, I understand that you would prefer them to remain completely untouched."
"Rest asured that if you are aware that they intend to visit they will be seen to accordingly. Heavily guarded or no, they can be met and escorted by one of the more courteous borderguards if necessary," He seemed to find this answer fitting. He wasn't about to discuss any further details regarding his guards, given that they were undergoing a rather dramatic upheaval and while it wasn't a power struggle, there were a number of changes in the works. There were some things she didn't need to know, there were others that she would eventually be privvy to but right now he was only prepared to move in baby steps.
"So long as that arrangement is to your liking we can move on. Am I right to assume you have other queries?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:48 am
Perhaps Ambroise's assessment was more accurate than hers, but there was no way that Elizabeth would be able to categorize Venom as 'hungry' or anything similar without feeling violently ill. Indeed, categorizing Venom at all had potential to make her violently ill, which was why she simply moved on. No response, no retort, no debate or remarking on Ambroise's 'updated' assessment of Venom, just a simple, "That is good to hear. If there is anything that I will need to provide as far as names or descriptions, just let me know and I will be as thorough as I can."
And if her friends never had to deal with Venom, so much the better. Although Ambroise's words raised a few new questions, specifically relating to how many border guards there actually were in the Islagiatt, where they resided, what their specific roles were...
Honestly, there was so much she still had to learn about her new herd! It was rather overwhelming to contemplate, but she took reassurance in the fact that she had always been good at remembering things. Besides, there were undoubtedly resources she could tap into, starting with her new mate...especially since he was offering.
Tilting her head slightly to the side, she considered his oblique offer of information, mulling over what questions were the most pressing and relevant at the moment. And it only took a moment to settle on one, perhaps the most important question of all. "So, Ambroise, what is it that happens now?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:29 am
That was a very vague question, even Ambroise could recognise that and he had long mastered the art of being deliberately vague. His brow lifted slightly at the query, as though her question had a very obvious answer. However, within a few moments the expression had disappeared from his face and had replaced with his usual stoic visage. Rolling his shoulders, he considered her question as though seeking a deeper meaning and eventually came to the conclusion that there wasn't one. It was exactly as it seemed - a very blunt and to the point question. "We ascend the slopes as quickly and efficiently as possible. With the changing seasons they are increasingly difficult to navigate." He replied.
"I estimate that given your lack of familiarity with the terrain it will take approximately three days of climbing to reach our destination," he spoke as though conversing with one of his students at that moment. He wasn't one for pleasantries and certainly hadn't taken the time to consider that she may have been insulted by his assessment of her strengths. "Once there I am confident you will recognise your lodgings but for the most part, that is the only 'immediate' plan I had in place," he finished. Glancing towards the mare as if to gauge her reaction, he soon fell silent again.
He'd answered her question to what he thought was the best of his ability and if he hadn't then she was more than welcome to ask further questions. He had opened the door after all, she had permission to speak her mind and pick at his (to a degree).
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Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:48 pm
It might be reassuring for Ambroise when it became established that Elizabeth was not a duplicitous or game-playing mare.She was polite to the point of vagueness when she felt the situation merited it, but one thing that she could not condone was game-playing or disguising her intent. Hiding it for a little bit, perhaps, but that was all.
And she'd been serious in her inquiry. Ever since she had accepted his proposal, things had been a bit of a blur; everything she was doing felt more like instinct than the result of thought. It was only natural that she looked to Ambroise to provide the answers; he was, after all, the stallion in the relationship.
Besides, unlike her new mate, Elizabeth had no family or obligations to connect her to one place. She was free and flexible...or at least she had been. Now, she supposed that she was only as flexible as her mate and her new life would allow. A potentially scary thought, but for a mare like Elizabeth, it was heaven.
And she was hardly the sort of mare who would complain or take insult at a stallion making a simple statement of fact. She was not a mountain traveler, she lacked wings and couldn't fly, and she was unfamiliar with the terrain; all excellent reasons for the trip to take a while. Besides, if memory served it had taken her almost a week before she made it to the slopes last time!
"I am sure that it will be an enjoyable climb and that I will be more than content with our lodgings. The last time I was in the area I found it extremely enjoyable, and I can only imagine that further exposure will increase my fondness for the region." She was smiling as she spoke, already looking forward to seeing the beautiful slopes once again. She would have to figure out the best way to familiarize herself with the area without falling over a precipice...perhaps Ambroise would know of someone that would be free to serve as a tour guide. Perhaps a familiar?
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:56 am
She'd find a climb enjoyable? Ambroise took careful measures to hide his expression in those moments, it would have appeared that her definition of climbing and his definition were a bit different. He was well known for pressing hard upon an individual to push themselves, to move faster and to cover more ground. As such; his pace was considerably faster than most and he was becoming a little more concious of the fact that he may have overestimated her capabilities - he hadn't actually asked her how long it had taken her to reach the altitude she had in their previous encounter. Perhaps three days was a little on the optimistic side in that respect, it may take longer but now that he had been reminded it was probably a good idea if he monitored his own pace closely.
Nevertheless the mention of a familiar would have caused him to pause momentarily in his stride. Islagiatt did not have an abundance of familiars; they had plenty of soquili and other creatures that made their homes in various regions of the slope, but there were few that had a 'bond' with the herd. That didn't mean there were none of course, there were a very select few that came to mind however their knowledge of the territory was generally only limited to where they often resided.
...If pushed, there was a high chance Ambroise could 'borrow' a familiar on her behalf, but her choice would be limited and only one would spring to mind!
"I would encourage you to adapt to the climate before bonding anymore with the region, particularly in this weather," he murmured softly. He was acutely aware of her thin winter coat (thin by his definition) and would rather his new companion didn't fall ill with the flu the moment she entered the region. "After that, you are more than welcome to explore and grow accustomed to your new home."
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:13 pm
Ambroise raised a valid point, although it would take time for Elizabeth to realize just how cold her new home could be. After all, it had been high summer when she had last seen the slopes, and high summer could hardly be demonstrative of the climate. Still, it was a somewhat irksome thought to contemplate staying stationary when there was so much to see and get acquainted with!
Then she had to smile; here she was, on her way to a new adventure, a new life that promised to give her that which she had always desired, and she was UPSET? How very childlike and petulant she was being, not to see the positives. Being stationary would allow her to recover from the journey and overcome the inevitable discomfort that would come from a strange new home. On top of that, it would be a chance to get to know her mate a bit better as a Soquili rather than a tour guide.
Not that she expected him to hang around the whole time, but it was only logical that he would be spending at least part of the time nearby. That was part of being a mate, after all; being close to your life partner. It would be very pleasant!
Nodding her head slightly at the thought, she gave Ambroise her most pleasant smile as she replied, "You are likely right, Ambroise; I would imagine that it will take time before I am prepared to face the cold. Still, I look forward to the opportunity to explore for myself!" A delightful thought, but one that would have to be saved for later. "In the meantime, I am sure that I will have things to occupy my time...and I suppose I should allow for us to travel there before I get too preoccupied with what happens later."
It was funny, but in a roundabout way she seemed to have answered her own question: what happened now was taking things one step at a time. Glancing down at their walking feet, she gave them a smile; with such seemingly little effort, those hooves carried them both into the unknown, the future!
"Whatever happens, I do thank you, Ambroise." She left it specifically vague as to what she was grateful for, but that was because at the moment, she was honestly grateful for everything.
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Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:10 am
Ambroise hadn't really taken the opportunity to consider the 'company' part of the relationship he now found himself in. It was obvious that he would very quickly discover what was expected of him, but the typically antisocial stallion would deal with that when he came to it. For now, he was spending much of his time adapting to the life changing decision he had just made. Even now as he listened to Elizabeth speak and gave her the opportunity to ponder over what awaited her, he dwelled on how his family would receive the news. His chosen path hadn't been the most typical of an Islagiatt soquili - they wouldn't be disappointed, not completely, but there would be questions.
For example, he knew that the very first words to escape from his mother's mouth would be 'Are you sure?'. There was a high chance she would feel responsible for his decision, guilty that she had 'pressured' him, but there had been many reasons for him to take this plunge. Admittedly he couldn't list all those reasons right now but at the time there had been quite a vast number of them.
He was glad that the mare was sensible enough not to take immediate offence at his blunt assessment of her capabilities though and nodded ever so slightly in appreciation. He suspected that with very controlled periods in the unsheltered regions of the mountains her winter coat would begin to thicken at a reasonable pace, but he wouldn't permit her to wander so freely until he was satisfied with it. Controlling as that might have been, he had his reasons for the behaviour and the more she spoke the more apparent it became that she recognised this. She may not have known much about him, but she did understand his sensibilities.
...He was still baffled that she was a lowlands mare.
"Thank you for what?" he enquired rather abruptly as he caught up with her optimistic words and flicked his emerald eyes to the side to observe her. His expression wasn't critical, but it wasn't completely stoic either - he'd been caught off guard by the rather vague remark and couldn't comprehend what had brought it on.
Ducking his head under a branch as he breached the forest's edge, he may have been focusing on the mare but his peripheral vision still kept an eye out for stumbling blocks.
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Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:17 pm
Elizabeth remained oblivious as to Ambroise's continued amazement at her home (yes, she WAS a lowlands mare, albeit a transplant) and his thoughts on family; the cogwheels of his mind were as hidden from her as hers were (hopefully) from him. Indeed, it was a rather comical situation; the two of them were both thinking energetically, their minds whirling, while externally they were sedate and reserved, barely making conversation. It was a very introspective walk, that much was certain!
And she was ok with that, simply giving Ambroise a smile as she responded to his question with a simple, one-word answer. "Opportunity."
Opportunity for travel, opportunity for adventure, opportunity for a home of her own, for children...
Children.
The very word made her smile all the way down to her hooves, as did the accompanying warm fuzzy feeling. To be a mother had been a dream of hers for as long as she could remember; she had never been able to see a foal without breaking out into a wistful look, and some of her happiest memories had involved spending time with her godchildren or herdmates' young. She had long past given up hope of having children herself; children needed parents (as in, two) to get the best possible upbringing, and Elizabeth would never consider being a single mother. As she had given up hope of finding a mate, so too had she given up hope of being a mother.
Yes, that was perhaps the most cherished opportunity of all.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 4:23 am
"Oh," he replied. The response was rather simplistic at best but what exactly did you say to a mare when she replied in that manner? "You are welcome," he added after a few moments. It was the politest phrase and seemed to be the most appropriate. Given he wasn't privvy to her thoughts or feelings it seemed to be the most reasonable form of action. At least she didn't regret her decision and if she was nervous she was hiding it well - at the very least, he didn't have to dwell on certain expectations for any length of time for example; children.
While Ambroise had no doubt he could perform that duty admirably (his family certainly had no issues with procreating) he wasn't really sure he was suitable for children. He was a little awkward when it came to the little midgets; he treated them as adults the moment they came to be his students and well... Sympathy, empathy and all those other delicate emotions had never been his strong point. He sincerely doubted that any smart mare would care to introduce him to their children on a more permanent basis.
...He'd be a slave driver.
They'd hate him.
Then again, if he thought on it for a little while he was reminded of a number of the family units in Islagiatt. Generally speaking, he could simply be the figure in the background who represented the tyrant and disciplinarian. Who was to say that Elizabeth wasn't perfectly capable of raising the children on her own? He was more than capable of cracking their heads together if they stepped out of line.
Heh - it could happen!
Nevertheless he sucked in a breath and proceeded on through the foliage taking careful note of the branches. Every now and then he would pause and use a wing to ensure they didn't fly back and slap the mare behind him. It seemed they both had a lot on their mind, although some might have said it was probably better to express these things rather than to keep them bottled up.
...Ah, but that would be like asking a rock to speak when it came to Ambroise. It probably wasn't going to happen.
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:57 pm
Yes, they were definitely not what one would describe as a "conversational" couple. But there was nothing wrong with that; as far as Elizabeth was concerned, the world was filled with far too much idle chatter. Better to speak little in a polite way that to bubble over with random words that make no sense or show no consideration for those she was conversing with!
And now seemed to be a perfect example of that resolve. Though she gave a polite nod in response to his comment, otherwise she remained silent as they made their way through the trees. It was not the first time she had been in the woods, but there was always a certain degree of caution required among the tangled roots and branches. Still, his concern was appreciated, and the only comments that she uttered for a very long time were small murmurs of thanks as he held back the branches for her.
Really, as far as long walks went she had nothing to complain about!
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