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 Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:58 am
The prince had no intention of keeping a slow pace, and gradually quickened it, He didn’t want to go too quickly, however, as he had the bad habit of going into a trance with the rhythm of the ride and forgetting that the was not riding alone. He certainly didn’t want to forget about Shae. His sense of determination was stronger now that he had a legitimate goal, and he kept his eyes straight ahead as he rode, glancing towards Shae occasionally to make sure they were still together - and to get a peek at how cute he was in that riding dress, though he wouldn’t admit that one right away.
((Thank you! And your pictures are super cute, I love the dresses! You've been busy with teh arts!))
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:07 am
((Most of the pics are pretty old... O: ))
After some time, Shae had begun to notice the other's glances and he had to work hard to keep a slightly impish grin off his features. He couldn't let the other know that he had seen him or it might spoil it all.
However, after a while he decided to try and strike up a coversation. After all, all those glances could be amusing at first... but he steadily grew bored of just sitting there while the other studied him. Of course, he wasn't just sitting there - he was riding - but all the same, he would prefure to have something to occupy himself with.
"Where are we headed? I mean... do you think we'll make it to your kingdom?" he asked finally. His braids kept bouncing in rhythm with the horse's motion and it rather irked him... but he made no attempt to change it.
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:37 am
“Hmn?” For some reason, Leif had forgotten all about -talking- though it would seem natural for them to do so. “Oh, we’re not heading towards my kingdom.” It was true, as they seemed to be heading more west than south, and soon they would be veering even farther north. He didn’t know how to word what he wanted to say, as he didn’t want to spoil the surprise or make it sound too boring. He sighed softly, and he could feel the coolness of the air versus the warmth of his breath. The constant clop of hooves upon the path made conversation a bit difficult, but he made sure to speak loudly enough as to be heard over it. “If we travel through the night, we should reach it by sunrise. I want to show you a sight truly worthy of you. You're the first woman I've ever wanted to impress, you know.”
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:46 am
Shae was left momentarilly speachless. '...a sight truly worthy of you...' He certainly thought highly of the supposed 'princess,' didn't he. "I see, well... I... I am sure I will love it." Whether or not he wanted to admit it (which he likely did not), his cheeks were quite a bright red. The 'first woman I've ever wanted to impress,' huh... Shae's conscious was deffinately prodding him with stabbing feelings of guilt.
But it might be all a play, right? Because Shae was the princess... and Leif was a prince. And so he was supposed to try and... to try and woo Shae, wasn't he? For all the young prince could know, Leif could be lying.
Except that Shae found that he didn't want Leif to be lying. He liked him too much to want to think less of him. But then that created another problem, if Leif were telling the truth: if he really did like Shae all that much, then... that could be very problematic once he found out Shae was a man. So he would just have to keep it a secret. After the week ended... he could... just turn the other down (if anything was offered). He would have to... but he wasn't sure if the Kingdom of Solveig would like that any better.
And so the prince, cheeks flushed, seemed rather... troubled. But he did his best to keep it all below the surface, a small smile tugging absently at the corners of his lips.
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:31 pm
He was not a devious man, the Prince of Solveig, in fact he was quite the opposite. Honest to a fault, he sought results from being blunt and/or violent - though he was wise enough to know that violence would get him nowhere with Shae. He secretly wished he had the ability to write poetry or songs, or whatever it was that men did to woo a lover. But he only had his bluntness and his growing desire, though he was privately trying to rhyme words in his head for when the time came. Feeling that his spilt emotions had come off as trite verbosity, he cleared his throat and tried to change the subject. “So... Educate me about Chver. What are your specialties?”
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:05 am
((I wonder what would happen if Shae just kissed him or something. xDD;; ninja ))
Shae glanced over at the other as he was startled from his thoughts - not that this showed, for he remained in his usual grace up top the horse. "Hmm...? Oh, well... our crops. And our wool... weavings, clothes, those sorts of things... But we are a... much more contained society. We don't really export or import much of anything," Shae said after a moment's pause to think. However, by his tone, it was quite easy to see that he didn't find this particular subject of much interest.
They had been riding for a while, now, and it had been an even longer time since the festival and the afternoon. The sun was sinking and, although it was not yet setting, it was getting colder. And darker. The kingdom of Chver, even in their short spring and summer, had always had long, cold nights.
Shae glanced up at the sun, a small shiver running all down his spine.
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:38 am
((He'd find out Shae was a boy much sooner than later, when he threw him to the ground to ravage him. jk))
Leif wasn’t exactly interested either, but he did like listening to Shae speak, although at times he felt that the princess was trying to make herself sound a bit more girly than natural - though it could have been that he was just nervous. He looked to the sky, peering through the canopy of leaves above them, and made his calculations. They were well into the mountain, which meant they still had several hours, and were due for a break. He stopped and dismounted, then moved over towards Shae and Maple, his hands reaching out to the other’s waist, obviously meaning to help the princess down like a child.
“I can see your breath dance,” he whispered, “Let’s take a break and put warmer clothing on.” Clothing. Clothing. The word echoed in his mind as he remembered where they were going, and what sort of place it was. Safe for a man, of course, but a woman... might not be so lucky if they were spotted. “Speaking of clothing. I don’t suppose you’ve brought any... boy’s clothing with you?” It almost sounded as if he meant it for himself, although he was much broader in the back than Shae, and had his own pack.
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:13 pm
It felt... rather akward as the other took grasp of his waist to help him down. He hadn't been helped down since he was about... six. And, more than that, he was afraid that the other's hands might stray - that they might, somehow, find him to be man. He slipped out of the other's grasp and onto the ground quite easily, skirt only barely whirling with the motion-made winds. He wasn't sure... but he had a sinking feeling that his slipping motion might have brought the other's hands a little close to something he didn't have ((cleavage)).
And that was the reason, he told himself, that he was blushing like all hell had broken loose all over his pale face. Not because of the other's rather akward attempt at personification.
Boy's clothes...? Why...? Did Leif suspect him, then? Was Leif perhaps... gay? Had he known all along? He glanced up at the other, his bright green eyes glimmering in light confusion. "No... why?" he asked curiously. It couldn't be for Leif. No, the man was much larger than he... so he must mean it for Shae himself.
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 4:09 pm
Shae assumed Leif was more clever than he actually was. The problem with Leif was that, once he made up his mind about something, it was very hard to dissuade him - and he didn’t exactly search for ways to disprove himself. He lifted the other prince easily and set him down on the ground without any pomp or circumstance before he turned away, his hand upon his chin as he looked towards his own sack of possessions.
“Once we’re off the mountain, we’ll be in a place that might be a bit dangerous for a woman to be.” He hadn’t thought of it prior to them leaving, but only because Shae had been so adamant about going somewhere interesting, and he had instantly thought of this place. “There are villages down this way, the homes of raiders and men of the sea who will soon be setting off for spring. They’re prone to do all sorts of foolish things this time of year, because they won’t be back to face the consequences for months - if there are any. That only leaves us with one choice.”
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 4:19 pm
Shae nodded slowly. It would be... best to follow the other's advice. If he came dressed as a woman he could get into all sorts of problems (particularly since Leif and the rest of everyone else Shae knew thought he was much too pretty a 'lady'). If something of that sort happened, he would also likely be revealed as a man... and that spelled for disaster.
"Do you think that... your clothes will at all fit me...? I mean...." he trailed off slowly, eyes lingering on the other's broad shoulders. "I think I have a shirt I could wear that might not look too girl-ish... but I did not think to bring any pants," Shae murmured, his bright green eyes trailing down to study the other's legs. He was blissfully unaware of what reactions such staring might provoke.
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:06 pm
That wayward stare made Leif’s heart stir and his blood flow. Almost immediately after he noticed Shae’s study of his legs hidden beneath snug brown leather, he clasped his hands down in front of him and turned around. “Um... yes. Yes, I think they’ll fit you fine with a belt... or a drawstring.... or something to that affect...” He spoke slowly, and went through his pack quite leisurely as he waited for his body to settle down. At last, he found a spare pair of britches, and he pulled them out. They were of a fine leather, tan in color, and would probably hang loosely on Shae, if they were accepted at all. “How about these? I’ll let you borrow them for a kiss.” He was only half serious, but he leaned forward, offering his smooth cheek in order to receive payment.
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:17 pm
A small flush formed on the prince's cheeks - but it quickly vanished as his scheming mind began to work. "I never knew you were the type to make such deals," he murmured, the corners of his lips quirked up in his usual small, impish grin.
This truly might prove to be interesting...
Shae leaned forward, having to stand on tip-toe to reach the other even when he was bent down, and allowed his lips to brush softly against the other's. Shae had, rather obviously, thought the other meant a real kiss - not just a peck on the cheek.
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 8:53 pm
As soon as Shae’s lips had left his own, a smile grew upon Leif’s face. That was precisely what he loved about Shae, the sheer boldness of one who’d juggle daggers and kiss a man without apology. He could no longer tell what was up and what was down, but he knew that his heart wouldn’t lie about something so simple. “You’re very sweet.” A peculiar statement, but he was not known for his eloquence. He watched Shae’s expression as he relinquished the garment.
Some may think that he was moving too slow, but he did have the concept of time in his mind. He only had a week to convince Shae to be his bride - and he had spent less than a day with that child of Chver. He did have a plan though, as all good warriors were good at strategy. “I’ll stay with the horses while you change, unless you would like me to leave while you do so?”
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Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:46 pm
Shae smiled as the other handed over his pants, any qualms about kissing the other seeming to leave no mark whatsoever on his features. He folded the garment and slung it up top one shoulder before he carefully reached up into his own saddle bag for a shirt. He looked the shirt over for a moment before deaming it descent for a man to wear. He also took out a belt that he had thrown in there (the belt in one of the dresses).
"I'll be back in a moment," Shae said, barely even glancing over at the other as he made his way off in the direction of a patch of trees, his braids swishing in rhythm with his steps.
He at last found a spot where he could change and be sure that the other would not see - not that he suspected Leif of being a peeping Tom. He just had to be careful. He quickly stripped out of the dress he was wearing, his breath rising in a fog of white. It was so cold - really, it was too cold to be changing outside.
And so he changed as quickly as was possible. The shirt was easy and fit him perfectly, but the pants were much more difficult. His waist (and everything else) was much narrower than Leif's and the other's legs were a lot longer, as well. But he managed. He rolled the pants up a bit at the waist and the ancles and then belted it. It was a rather good thing that the shirt was long and the pants were loose to... disguise a quite unwomanly feature.
Shae returned to the site where the horses were, his dress slung over one shoulder. He had undone his braids (which had taken some time) and his hair was currently tied back in a pony tail. His firy hair was being very wavy and unruly after having been kept in braids.
"How's this? Descent?" he asked, smiling through a wave of shivers and slightly chattering teeth. He put the dress back in his saddle bag and quickly took out his cloak, fastening it as quickly as he could.
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Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:40 pm
By the time Shae returned, Leif too had changed, exchanging the few bits of metal armor he had been wearing (mainly a shoulder guard and gauntlets) for a sweeping blue cloak with a collar of rich golden fur that made him look very much like the name the commonwealth had coined for him. He smiled at the other Prince’s comment, his own nose red with the cold as he approached, revealing something he had found in his pack.
A green knit cap was placed squarely upon Shae’s head, and the taller man adjusted it a little, pulling down the ends so they’d protect those delicate little ears. “Don’t worry,” he comforted in a tender voice, further making it unclear as to whether or not he was -on- to the masquerade that was put on before him, as well as answered no questions about his sexuality. “You’re as much a vision as a boy as you were as a girl.”
He moved in close, longing to pull Shae into a passionate embrace, but he restrained himself, unwittingly building the sense of anticipation between them. He had his plans, after all, and he didn’t want them ruined. “Shall we then?” He was impatient about arriving at their destination, but he didn’t want to put too much of a rush on his guest of honor. This led to Leif dawdling on his way back to his horse, which he petted fondly before he began to fasten buckles and prepare for departure once again. “Let me know if you need some warming up. I’ll be happy to oblige.”
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