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 Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 6:52 am
Dante chose that moment to yawn mightily, displaying the entirety of his pink mouth and tiny curling tongue. He then snuggled down, gently using Heather as a pillow for an impromptu nap in the autumn sun. "Hmm, well that's good to know. Making offerings to a small rambunctious buck would be... problematic on a number of levels," she chuckled, seeing in her mind trying to get Dante to accept a bowl of milk and a sprig of mistletoe or whatever, and somehow winding up with him wearing the bowl as a cunning hat with milk splattered everywhere and the mistletoe somehow on fire. She sighed as she selected one of the tiny sandwiches and set it on her plate. "Well, there's one thing left I know I need to ask about, but I'm a little afraid to know the answer. What do you know... about the wardens? Both the ancient ones and their modern incarnation. I believe my father is slightly terrified I might be drafted into some kind of war. Something he's seen too much of, if I may be frank, and wouldn't wish on his worst enemy let alone his own flesh and blood."
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Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 11:02 pm
Though surprised to find herself being thus used, Heather did little more than snuffle at his ears before settling back down to relax a bit, herself.
"I...am not entirely certain what you mean," she admitted after a moment. There was just so much to be known about Wardens that Eliza hardly knew where to begin. But Miss Bankes seemed most concerned with battle, and rightly so. Perhaps that was a good place to begin?
"Most of the stories either talk about the bond or fighting the Wolves," she ventured hesitantly, not wanting to upset her host. "But then, most of those are about male Wardens." Who would tell stories about woman-soldiers? The notion was absurd in this day and age. Still, there may have been a story or two in there somewhere with female Wardens fighting.
"And stories about war tend to survive the longest, anyway," she added, hoping to reassure Miss Bankes. "People find them more interesting than other things. If there is much mention of female Wardens, I'm afraid I have not found it yet." Though the thought may ave crossed her mind in passing before, this was the first time that Eliza had really thought about it. Just what did female Chosen do?
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 6:48 am
Rose sighed and looked down at the sandwich on her plate, her appetite quite flown, but she found a smile for her guest. "Well, that all makes a great deal of sense, thank you." Glancing back as things became alarmingly quiet behind her, she found the adorable sight of Heather and Dante napping in the sun together and her smile widened fondly. "Oh, I do believe dear Heather has been adopted. How sweet!" With a chuckle, she returned her attention to her guest and firmly reminded herself not to borrow trouble. "I'm sure the Queen will have an appropriate role in mind for women with Guardians," she said with a small nod, her mind following similar paths to Eliza's. "Speaking of which, have you heard anything about the progress of the new headquarters? I visited the construction site some months ago with Mrs. Gaynesford, but I haven't been able to catch more than gossip and rumors." Nyx Argyros Eliza is adorable and I love her. heart
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 1:12 pm
In contrast to her host, Eliza finally felt comfortable enough to indulge in a little sandwich and sip some more of her tea. She smiled at the peaceful scene that the two animals made, agreed that the queen would surely have a plan, and considered the next question. "I'm afraid that I have heard very little," she said, eyes downcast. Eliza did her very best to avoid social situations. However, that also made it difficult to keep up with the latest news. Oh, she heard bits and snatches here and there - it was impossible not to - but she was not the type to keep up on the latest gossip. Besides, the more time that passed without wolf sightings, the less people seemed to care about the Warden Grounds in Oldcastle. There were more interesting things to talk about. Or at least, her sisters seemed to think so.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 1:44 pm
"That's a pity. I suppose since we've had a fairly wolf-free winter people have convinced themselves it was a fluke. Mayhap they're right, but the Warden Grounds were bustling while I was there. I heard that the Spirit that advises the Queen-" A phrase that was deeply unsettling, but surely Her Majesty knew what she was doing- "Llyr, was it? Collapsed when he tried to walk inside one of the half-constructed buildings. It's all rather troubling." She shrugged and sighed. "I confess I'm not sure what to think." Somewhat mollified at the reminder that there hadn't been any wolf sightings in months, she took a polite nibble of her sandwich and resumed work on her cup of tea, which was quite tasty. "But I'm confident in Her Majesty's wisdom. Construction was certainly proceeding with a purpose. So, if the wolves weren't a fluke, there is clearly a plan in place."
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:02 pm
"Oh, I've no doubt," she agreed. The queen ought to know what she was doing, even if the rumors were true and there was a spirit advising her. Of course, who better to advise the queen about spirits than a spirit himself? Though Eliza was not certain what she would do if she ever met the spirit herself, she was certain that the queen was canny enough to handle him.
"Though I certainly hope the Wolves will not be returning. How frightful that would be," she had little interest in war, especially in Sunderland where peace had reigned so long. Better there was no fighting at all. That would suit her just fine.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:16 pm
"It certainly would be," Rose agreed, looking over the garden wall and into the woods. It was easy to imagine malevolent eyes in the shadows, even as the trees were bare in the last days of autumn. Realizing she'd been silent a heartbeat too long (And that she'd been pumping Miss Eliza for information in a rather unseemly manner, though the sweet girl didn't seem to mind), she shook her head to regain her composure. "But as my father says, let's not borrow trouble. It's a lovely day, isn't it?" she said with what she hoped was a warm smile. "So, tell me about dear Heather. I've heard you're kind enough to take in woodland creatures. I've done the same, when Mrs. Gaynesford will let me. Was she one of your rescues?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:32 pm
Surprised that her habits were known, Eliza paused a moment. Well, her sisters probably mentioned her in social circles, and who could say how information traveled, anyway? Some things were simply known. However much she might aspire to be invisible, even she was surely noticed on occasion. No, Eliza was not exempt from the occasional bit of gossip.
"No," she said, going into motion again. "No, Heather was a gift from mother. Of course, she did not realize that Heather was a Wardwood rabbit until she grew so big. Father is not terribly fond of Wardwood animals." At this, she smiled quietly. "But of course, it was too late to be rid of her by then."
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:51 pm
"Oh, dear. Well, she's very well-behaved. You must be an excellent trainer," she said with a sincere smile. "And it speaks well of your father's character that he was willing to look past his dislike of Wardwood beasts and see that Heather, at least, is agreeable," she said with a nod of approval. Realizing that that may have been brash of her to say, she coughed slightly to cover her embarassment. "Would you like some more tea? I think we might be running low," she said to further cover her slip, looking around for a servant she could ask to fetch some more.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 6:40 pm
Not entirely certain what to make of the compliment - really, she was simply patient with them, there was nothing special about it - Eliza elected to ignore it as best she could, instead, she smiled and said, "Yes. Father is very wise." Though, he was also very intimidating. She never could speak properly to him, and his aloof detachment did nothing to encourage her.
"Please," she said. More tea would not be remiss, especially with those cakes. They looked delicious. Upon sampling one, she found that they were.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:19 pm
Grateful that Eliza either hadn't noticed her slip or legitimately didn't mind, Rose signalled for more tea and gave her another smile. Her guest was certainly quiet and self-effacing, but Rose had decided she quite liked her. She had a kind heart. As the servant poured the second round of tea, Rose bestowed a benevolent smile upon her as well, but waited to continue until the maid had gone. "I've also heard mention that you have musical talent," she said, trying another tack that she hoped might go a little better than the last. She was working on an idea for a way to coax the shy Miss Eliza into coming for a visit again, one that involved Heather and Dante having play-dates, but best to work up to it with care. "You play the Piano-forte, yes?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:03 pm
At the mention of her most beloved instrument, Eliza seemed to straighten right up. Though she did not often play in public - she was far too shy to walk up to the piano, though once she actually started, she would lose herself in the music - the strains of her music were most familiar in her home. It was the one thing which she could say with any confidence that she had attained proficiency at.
"Oh, yes," she said earnestly, even then feeling the inadequacy of the words. But then, words were not her specialty. It was music which expressed her meaning. Music which held her soul. There were no words to describe that. It was something that could only be understood or not understood. "Do you play, Miss Bankes?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:58 am
"Not with any degree of skill," she admitted with a wry smile, "Though I do love to sing, which has served to mollify Mrs Gaynesford to date. I can pick out a tune well enough to teach myself a new song and make sure I'm on pitch, but not well enough to perform." She shrugged as she took another sip from her teacup. "I'd love to hear you play sometime, though. If you wouldn't mind."
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:07 pm
The news that Miss Bankes did not play particularly well did not seem to bother Eliza - each person, after all, had their own talents. However, she seemed pleased to hear that she could sing.
"Perhaps..." she hesitated, unaccustomed to making any assertive suggestions of her own. A performance, after all, was different than a music session, as it were. "Perhaps I could accompany your singing."
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:02 pm
Rose's face lit up at the idea. "Oh, that would be fun," she said with an approving nod. "I believe Father's meeting a friend in the parlor this afternoon, but next time we should definitely make a point to do that." She glanced over to where Dante was still sleeping peacefully with his chin draped across the endlessly patient Heather's back and smiled fondly. "You should definitely bring dear Heather, too. I know Dante would appreciate it, and I know Mrs. Gaynesford and father will love her. She's such a sweetheart, and so well-mannered." She waved a hand dismissively as she realized she was rambling a bit. "But we were talking about your piano... Did your governess teach you?"
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