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 Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 6:33 pm
The letter would arrive in a crisp ivory envelope sealed with red wax. The official seal was somewhat generic, consisting of a large, decorative letter "F" surrounded by a ring. There was no return address, but the intended recipient was one Lord A. Kinross. The note itself was on folded white paper, written in a long, feminine script.
My dearest Andrus,
I hope that my correspondence finds you well. I know of no other way to reach you without the undue threat of discovery.
I have to offer for you the most bizarre circumstance. The night of our last meeting, my sleep was fitful, but as of last night
I find myself tortured by unfamiliar thoughts. They are nothing unfitting for a proper lady (indeed!), but they are rather unusual.
I have had a dream of the strangest kind. I dreamed of the nobles, of the wolves, and of the wardwood. It struck me so that
I could not sleep again. Thoughts of the wood pervade my every waking hour. I think of it while I work and while I entertain
the children, and I am thinking of it again as I prepare for sleep to-night. It lingers at the front of my mind, kept company by only
my thoughts of you. I am tortured. My concern now has become whether this dream has some deeper meaning. It has triggered
a great desire in me to travel to the wood and to see if I cannot find the source myself with no concern for the danger involved.
Your brother told me of a similar longing during our time together, and it sounds familiar to me now. Do I dare believe that there
is something unique in me that has triggered the spirits' call?
I beg that you meet me this coming Sunday by the river at which we shared our most tender meeting. You are the only person with
whom I trust such a tender facet of my being, and if there is nothing to come of it, then perhaps we may only share a pleasant
after-noon. I may be in need of a horse with which to strike out on my journey. I pray to see you soon.
Yours,
Chloe
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:23 am
"Do you suppose Chloe is right to think this is a Choosing?" Andrus said aloud to the empty library, because Jordun had left that morning on his way back to Wellisbury and because he could tell Feather was somewhere nearby. The grimalkin was not likely to respond, but the act of voicing his questions aloud to someone was reassuring in and of itself.
Andrus, of course, did not know what it was like to be Chosen. His connection to Feather had seemed more of a happenstance than anything else, and there had hardly been any fanfare about it. One day she was not there, and the next she was. It had been simple, and no desire to travel anywhere had ever really caught him.
Of course, Guardians were a different matter entirely, as Jordun had explained to him many times. He, too, had heard the story of Jordun's sudden urge to travel into the Wardwood and his subsequent return with the totem in his hand. As someone who had grown up reading books and learning to follow logic, Andrus found it easy to be skeptical. He was a hypocrite for feeling that way, but it came sneaking him to and left him feeling somewhat guilty.
Still, he was not one to reject Chloe's request for a meeting - if for no other reason than that they would meet - so Sunday saw him swinging into the saddle upon Archer's back and ponying his mother's bay mare along behind him as he rode his way through the familiar woods and back to the river that had always held such fond memories.
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:38 am
Chloe had arrived much earlier than she had originally planned. The opportunity to discuss her dream was exciting, and so too was a meeting with Andrus. She was a tense ball of adrenaline while she waited, bundled in multiple layers as she sat on the rock beside the stream. There was a part of her that hoped that she was wrong. It would be so much easier to stay a common girl, to lack any mystical connections and to not have to travel to a forest known to be inhabited by woods. Still, her dream and her desires plagued her.
Andrus was more or less logical. He could help.
Sneaking through the brush on his family's property had been a fair rush as well, but Chloe found herself hyper-aware and frightened by any oncoming noise. For this reason, she nearly lunged into the river to get away from the sound of horses approaching. Warmth won out, though, and she waited just a moment. What was the worst that could happen? She would be removed from the property and not have to walk back. Seeing the man who was approaching, though, she could only grin. Still the sight of her Coincidence's face lit her with joy, and now there was a strange tingling in her chest to accompany it. Chloe approached slowly so as to not frighten the horses, but stood a foot or so from Archer with her hands clasped together, bouncing with excitement.
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Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 8:26 pm
He could almost remember the last time he had felt like this, years ago as a child. Back then, adventure had been his life's work, always dragging poor Jordun into situations the younger Kinross had no desire to be in. And back then, the thrill of adventure had been a more common sensation. So many years had passed since he had put those feelings to rest and yet, now, he knew at once it was the same giddy sense of excitement that faced him in light of his upcoming meeting with Chloe.
"So you managed to find the place," Andrus said with a grin as he drew the horses to a halt and swung down from Archer's back. The gelding stretched his neck to sniff at Chloe and drew back indignantly when Andrus shoved his nose out of the way and said, "Get in line, mister."
Andrus turned his back on the horses to take Chloe's hand and draw her into him, arms encircling her waist. "Good morning, lovely," he murmured, landing a kiss on her forehead.
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Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 8:18 am
Chloe herself had always hoped for some sort of real adventure, but up until Andrus they had only existed in her own head. She giggled when Archer was scolded and gladly fell into Andrus' embrace, drawing her arms around him. Once again there was solidity and warmth, and a deep sense of belonging. She warned herself to not cry again and instead closed her eyes and pressed her cheek into his chest.
"It wasn't hard to find. I have a good memory, you know," she said, voice lost in her comfort. She peeled away then and grinned up at her Coincidence. She felt no more longing for the wood as she looked into his eyes. Perhaps it had all been meaningless afterall; maybe related to Jordun's trip home. "Thank you for coming. I hope I didn't get you in any trouble with my letter."
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 7:46 am
"It would be a sad state of affairs if I could get into trouble for my own letters," he answered with a smile. The staff was forbidden to peruse unopened mail, and if any of them happened to glimpse something, they were unlikely to tell anyone. Andrus was well aware of the rampant gossip that invaded the house, but his father had not returned to Darrowdown in years and the staff knew better than to tell anyone else. They had a good working relationship, one that Andrus thought he could trust.
"Tell me more about this urge to visit the Wardwood," he said, knowing he would not be as effective in helping than Jordun. He didn't know, after all, how to accurately diagnose a Choosing. His brother had a far better understanding of the magic of the Wardwood, but Jordun was miles away.
"I don't know if I will be of any help, but I can do my best, I suppose," he added.
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:43 am
"Well, that's all that I can ask," Chloe nodded, a smile gracing her lips. She hadn't imagined that Andrus could know any more than she did, but Jordun had already gone. The best she could hope for was his grounding logic against her constant flights of fancy. She was a dreamer, and she knew it. This situation required some delicate care.
"It was just a dream, at first," she began, and could already feel the longing returning to tug at her chest. She sat on the back of the rock by the sluggish winter river, pulling her jacket closer around her body. "I was in a field, and then I was outside the wood. Everyone was there. It was like a big ball right on the outskirts of the trees. The Count and Countess were there, your dear Claudia, not you, not Jordun, but everyone else of any class. They watched me as I entered. There was a thread at my back, tugging off... well. Well, there was a thread. When I got inside the wood there were wolves, but I rose above them to a great tree and found myself... a little statue? I remember it so clearly. It was just offwhite with some darkness at the nose and back, and there were strange green markings. There was a colorful etching on the side. Pink, it was. If I hadn't remembered it all; felt like I had lived it all, I would simply have attributed it to fancy and let it be."
She sighed then, wringing her hands together.
"and now it won't leave my mind. I want to go, to see the Wood myself, to see if this tree exists, just to see. I need to. The urge is in everything I do, Andrus. I cannot cook, I cannot clean, I cannot care for the children without wondering about the Wood..."
She peered up at him with lost, almost sad eyes. Hopefully he could offer his advice one way or the other, and hold her a little while...
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Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 8:33 pm
The look in his eyes turned sharp at the mention of Claudia, a change unbidden but driven by the fact that the name and the girl had both come to represent everything Andrus secretly feared. It was a fear that his brother articulated well, a fear of being trapped in an entirely dull existence that lent little meaning to his life. Claudia was the trap, the unwelcome anchor to a soul that hardly recognized its own restlessness.
What did it all mean, the people and the thread and the woods? It sounded like a fanciful dream, and he was poised to say it when Chloe mentioned something else that gave him pause: it felt like she had lived it all.
He stopped to consider those words. Living it. Of course, wasn't that what it was all about? A part of him drew connections to himself and Feather and the relationship between them. It was one that Andrus would have simply ignored, had it not been for the fact that somehow, the grimalkin had made him feel as if he had lived many a lifetime before with her by his side - or, as much by his side as she ever really got. There was a subtle and unspoken understanding that it was right.
And perhaps that was what was happening here, with Chloe. Andrus couldn't be sure, but it seemed to make sense.
"Perhaps if it is enough to prevent you from going on with your life, it is worth investigating," he said finally, saying words that seemed more likely to come from Jordun's lips than his own.
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Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:07 pm
She wrung her hands and she awaited his reply. He could easily have talked her out of it, she thought, but what would become of her then? If she didn't try to make the trek to the Wood on foot, certainly she'd lose her mind. Her worries were allayed when Andrus finally spoke. A grin slowly struck her features.
Jordun had spoken of an young Andrus and his adventures, but she hadn't imagined that the boy of yesteryear would ever return. Perhaps she was good for him after all. She hardly thought that a spontaneous ride to a dangerous locale would have been on the itinerary.
"Really?" she asked, more in response to his agreement than any belief that she was someone special. Her smile faltered slightly, though, and she tilted her head. "What of the wolves? I've never seen one before, although Jordun and I found some artwork once. They didn't seem very peaceful in my dream, at least. What would we do if they decided to attack?"
She had not been at the Queen's ball, but she had heard of the events that transpired. It was hard to ignore the reports from Oldcastle as well. Humans could no longer turn a blind eye to ancient fears.
... horses could probably stomp them, couldn't they? This thought alone made Chlo realize just how desperately she needed to see the Wood.
"Alright. We'll go."
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Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:29 pm
Already, his mind was churning, putting together excuses for an unexpected disappearance and delegating duties to the staff. Somebody would have to explain to his mother. Though Chloe's influence seemed to bring back the ghost of his younger years, the training he had had refused to let him abandon his duties.
"Wolves?" He echoed, returning to the present at the sound of her voice. "I do not imagine they will attack. At the very least, not in an area surrounded by Guardian magic." He couldn't be sure. His knowledge on the Wardwood came only from books, and there was no way to know how accurate those depictions were without ever having seen the Ward Tree for himself. Still, he supposed, reassuring Chloe was more important. If they came under attack, they would have bigger problems to worry about than a silly assumption he had made.
"Of course, Jordun does have a knack for art. I imagine those illustrations could easily be exaggeration, however," he added. Part of him didn't quite believe all the rumors about the Wolves and how terrible they were. Surely they could not be much worse than regular wolves.
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Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 6:19 pm
Chloe nodded. She rather hoped that the illustration had simply been a madman's assumptions or some artistic exaggeration. It made sense that her dreams would show her only what she knew, and no what was true. Wolves didn't belong in Palisade anyway; she had never met one and hoped that she never would, especially the great wolves that were said to have killed so many people.
"I hope you're right," she nodded, and then looked to the ground. Fear was beginning to set in, and worry. These were two things that Chloe was not especially used to, at least not in recent years. She wrung her fingers together and let the silence stretch a moment before turning back up to Andrus.
"I'm sure we can't leave now, can we? Everyone would wonder where you've gone. I should pack some food and supplies, just in case the trip takes longer than intended. I don't imagine horses can walk all day, and I don't have the money to rent a room for the night. Shall we meet again some time later? Once we'd better prepared ourselves?"
She had never been to the Wood and was not entirely sure how far away it was. She did not know anyone to ask about it, either. She could only assume that it was not the pleasurable afternoon ride that she, Andrus and Jordun had enjoyed.
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Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:54 am
"As it is impossible to foresee what troubles we might encounter, I suggest we leave the worrying to our future selves," he said with a small smile. When the time came, Andrus assumed, they would find a way out of whatever mess they found themselves in.
His greater concern was how he would disguise the trip. Any number of things of could wrong with an improperly devised plan, but he refused to allow any slip-ups. A trip to Wellisbury, perhaps, would be the official story.
"A wise idea," he agreed. "I suppose we cannot very well go hurrying off on an adventure without first preparing for it... Perhaps we can meet in a day or two?" The ride to Oldcastle would take at least a day, most likely more, and Andrus didn't know how far into the Wardwood they might go. There was always a chance that something could go terribly wrong, but then again, that seemed to be part of the allure.
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Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:50 pm
Chloe had none of the same misgivings about her excuse. Ms. Stauss would not question and sudden adventure, although she would have to omit to where she was going. 'Be safe, Chloe' and off she'd go.
There was excitement behind her worry, and Andrus only reassured her. She was amazed that he would be coming, honestly. Perhaps she had struck something in him, that old desire for adventure. She had never been to Oldcastle herself, and had certainly never gone into the Wardwood. It could be entirely different in reality. It could be brighter as well as it could be more terrible.
"In two days, then. Where will we meet? I am not certain I can afford a carriage to Oldcastle myself, not that I would expect you to pay its entirety. Are we to ride there?"
MoonRazor Feel free to respond and warp to then!
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Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:24 pm
Andrus pondered her next words. "Here, perhaps, would be best. We can cross the river from the back of the property and leave undisturbed." The road to Oldcastle was not overly difficult, but a carriage would be more cumbersome than it was worth. He looked over at Chloe. "Riding there would be faster, a day and a half or two days. But I am not prepared to let you fret about the money. Just worry about figuring this matter out. In two days, then."
--
In the two days since their last meeting, Andrus had arranged for the house to accommodate his departure. Five days, he had assumed, just in case. He had left the daily routine to the butler, reminding the man to inform his mother after his departure. Now he stood with Archer chomping playfully at his bit and Theresa nosing at the grass with interest as they awaited Chloe's arrival.
"Here to see us off, my lady?" He said, dismounting as Feather emerged from behind some bushes and fixed her amber eyes on him. The faint glow of her stare unnerved some of the servants, but Andrus had always found it reassuring. The grimalkin stalked nonchalantly up to him and rubbed her face briefly against his leg. She was still anything but affectionate, but she had slowly become less aloof in recent months.
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Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 1:47 pm
Chloe offered a hesitant nod of agreement and a gentle kiss before disappearing through the trees again. Her hands were cold, but her heart was warm, buzzing even. She would get her trip to the Wood, and perhaps there would be some end to this longing.
It made sense, of course, for Andrus to take care of their monetary needs. Chloe had barely a coin to her name. What she could offer, however, was the first aid and a fair amount of food lest they need to stop and camp out for an evening. Her sketchbook came as well, packed into the shoulder-bag she often carried at her side.
The girl was heralded by the soft cracking and rustling of branches, emerging from a side of the forest that Andrus may not have expected. She smiled broadly to him, cheeks and nose rosy. She did not interrupt the conversation with his grimalkin, but as soon as he turned, she had put a hand out to him.
"My sweet Coincidence."
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