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 Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:59 am
There was a spark of curiosity within the mare as Taliesin mentioned the large lake near his home. It sounded like a very beautiful, peaceful place. Something she longed for. Not having to hide, run or fear anything or anyone. She allowed herself a few moments to ponder what it would look like and in that time she close her eyes as she allowed her feet to lead her. She had seen the sun set over the summer castle and it had been beautiful. That seemed like an eternity ago though. It was strange how everything could be perfect in your life and one tiny choice could change everything in an instant. Throughout all of this though she had gained a better love for her family and most of all her silly, un-ladylike sister Arya. How she missed her constant teasing. The mare opened her eyes and sighed. Thankfully it was just in time to keep herself from hitting into the knight.
Sansa came to a halt instantly looking a little startled, but not because of him. She had completely escaped from this world and went into her own. She needed to stop that habit. Sansa was surprised to hear the stallion sigh, let alone tell her to let it come out in her own time. When he began walking again she picked up again and bit her lip. Everything about this stallion seemed to be like that of a fairytale. Fairytales she no longer believed in. There were no true knights nor royals who ruled their kingdom fairly and equally. Sir Tali made her a little hopeful that she was wrong though. As much as she hated admitting it to herself she wanted him to be good. To save her from the world that had wronged her. It was too much to hope for. But she did say she would trust him and place her hope in his promise. The mare released her lip that she had been biting at, a very un-ladylike thing to do but was she even a lady now? Her life was a mess. "I was supposed to marry a king name Joffrey. He was the son of my fathers lifelong friend, King Robert. Only he was twisted and every bit a beast as those told in the stories of old." She admitted to him. Sansa had said she would trust him and this was her sign of trust.
"There's much more to it and further beyond, but I said I would trust in you and your promise Sir Tali." The mare said softly, worried that she may have upset him both in acting as if it was the worst thing in the world to share her burdens and that he had forced her to. It wasn't true. She had just had to live a lie for so long, to keep everything hidden, to be the perfect lady that she didn't know how to be anything but. "Why were you in the woods?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:29 am
His thoughts went to home while he let Sansa contemplate his words. It had been months since he had seen his family. He had missed them and the mist covered lake. Ever since he was a little foal he had been constantly traveling, changing from one quest to another, learning, growing with each new skill and acquaintance. It did not matter how far he traveled, there was one place that always kept him centered and that was home. Home was the only place where the nightmares did not haunt his dreams; it was a place where he felt safe.
They walked in silence for a bit, the forest sounds seemed to be quite loud compared to their quiet movement. Birds sang loudly in the trees, branches swayed in a slight breeze, rodents scurried among the forest floor. It was times like this that the knight was at peace with himself; his worries would soak into the earth, leaving him carefree. He tried to concentrate on his surroundings, to let his mind clear, but his thoughts kept going to the mare walking slightly behind him. He wished she would walk by his side and would stop being so submissive, he was not going to hurt her and he saw her as his equal. Growing up with strong mares would influence a stallion to have respect for those of the opposite sex.
The clomp, clomp of his hooves was dampened by the moist earth as he slowed down to look at the mare. The Joffrey character sounded really similar to his half-brother Vortigern, a sad understanding came over Tali, no wonder she was so untrusting, “I am glad you became free of him. I know of someone who has a similar nature.” He needed to stop slowing down whenever he spoke to her, or they were never going to get to their destination, “I will keep my word, My Lady and not pry. Why am I in these woods? That is a good question. I was on a quest to find an object, failed mind you to find the object, and I am not the only one to have searched in vain. I am not even sure this object even exists, the Holy Grail. It is believed that if one should drink water from this cup, they will be granted something spectacular. Some say eternal life, others say enlightenment,” The stallion shrugged, “I am not sure what to believe. All I know is that I did not find the blessed object. But during my search, I met many interesting characters and learned quite a bit. My knowledge of herbal healing increased thanks to a wise medicine woman, but I digress. I was in the woods because I was returning home to see my family. It has been a long time.”
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Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 2:09 am
As the stallion slowed she made sure her paced matched his, not allowing her to go beyond his flank when following. It was a habit that had been burned into her being. Don't walk to close. Keep your head down. Pay attention to what's happening around her. All she wanted was to forget some of these verbal and unspoken rules that had come to rule her life before her escape. When Tali admitted that he knew someone of a similar nature she looked back at him with wide eyes. Was it Joffrey? No. No. He was dead. Sansa couldn't allow herself to think of him as alive. She barely survived life thinking he was dead.
When Tali moved on from that subject though Sansa let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Thank you." Sansa responded, trying to keep the tears at bay. He couldn't know how much those simple words meant to her. That he would not force her to say more than she could allow herself to say. It was safer that way for both of them anyways. Sir Tali was seemed to be such a kind stallion--something she was having a hard time coming to grips with--but she didn't want him to be harmed. Knowing her secrets could kill them both. Or at least that's how she felt. When he mentioned the Holy Grail and what powers it may hold and bestow upon those who managed to find it she grew curious once more. "Why did you seek this Holy Grail?" Sansa genuinely asked. Admittedly, his answer scared her. If he sought it for himself for nefarious reasons than he would truly be like all the others who had harmed her prior to him. If he didn't then she would have to believe he was different. Either way the stallion couldn't really win.
"You know how to treat wounds?" Sansa found this revelation to be almost life-changing. No one who was interested in harming others would take the time to learn how to treat wounds, would they? Please let him be good. Was all she could hold within her head. "Can you tell me about your family?" She asked after a pause. Her heart ached with the memories of her own--of her father. Another life lost at the hands of Joffrey and his evil.
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 1:01 pm
Written deep into the heart are the choices made in the past and it would take more than one kind face in a short amount of time to change the behaviors that were ingrained as a survival mechanism. The mare continued to walk behind him and to the side, it was her automatic response to when he began to walk, and it revealed to him the twisted and manipulative nature of her previously betrothed’s family. It was a sign of power, she was to them a pretty accessory used to elevate their status as she continued to walk in the subservient position. Anger filled the stallion, not at the mare for acting as such, but toward the King who caused her to become like this. It was no wonder she continued to act as if she was still in his presence, she had to do it in order to survive the bloodthirsty twisted world of her King and it would take years, if even that, for her to let go of those unnecessary actions.
Tali bowed his head to the mare in response to her expression of gratitude, “You are welcome My Lady. It is a knight’s duty to protect, and not to cause harm to those who they have given their word, be it physical, mental, or emotional.”
The stallion sighed and gazed around the woods, “As you know there is a great evil in this world; it does not just have one face, but many. And each of its guises manifests the black miasma of evil in different way. This is why I sought the grail, to help my family combat the coming evil. But mostly I sought it to keep it out of the clutches of my aunt. I wished to either destroy it so non could access its Power or give it to the High Priestess of Avalon, knowing that she would be able to keep it safe.” Tali was not sure if that was the answer the mare wished to hear, but it was his reasoning. Many knights have spent their entire lives searching for the Grail and died before they achieved their dreams; Tali vowed to himself that he would not be like his predecessors for during his quest he had come to the decision that the Grail was hidden well enough that he could discontinue his search.
Did he want to break her perception that those who know how to treat wounds would ultimately be good? He knew his aunt and her spawn would heal those they injure just so they could inflict more pain later; quickly he pushed his aunt and half-brother from his mind. “Yes, although it is more fighting type injuries that I specialize in, so it is quick and crude compared to some of the great healers out there.” He could only heal small cuts with his horn and it left him drained, so he preferred to treat with herbs and poultices.
“My mother, Gwenevere, is Queen of Camelot; she was the one that raised me, for father, Arthur, was usually gone on some political campaign or teaching my sister Viviane how to be the heir. When I was a foal I would spend hours with my mother traveling around the lands that our herd called home and I would meet the inhabitants and always my mother was with me. She never seemed to be afraid of anything and never desired a guard for her skill as a warrior is as legendary as that of my father’s. Although you could never tell that she was trained by a knight just by looking at her. She is also a healer, so when we traveled the kingdom, she would treat those who had become injured.” He smiled to himself as he talked about his mother and remembered the time he spent with her but then his look turned dark, “I was not going to mention this mare, but since I gave you hints already about my Aunt, I will tell you some about her. She is evil incarnate with a lovely face. My mother’s twin and dark to my mother’s light, they even share the same name, albeit a different spelling. She has the belief she is the rightful Queen and has spent most of her life trying to destroy her sister. And almost succeeded when my parents first met.” He shook himself and turned his attention back to the mare, “Sorry to mention her, but I thought it was important since they look so much alike.” When they went their separate ways, he wanted to make sure that she knew who to avoid and not to trust the face that is similar to his mother’s.
“What is your family like? Can you tell me about them or would you prefer another topic?” He asked her softly, after knowing hints of her dark past, he was not sure if she would be willing just yet to open up about a family. If she still had family, would she not have returned to them? ~Kiana_Nala~ Sorry that it is so late and a little rough around the edges.
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