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 Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:02 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:21 pm
 Quote: 16th June
Journal,
It has been over a year since I've been free of the curse, according to Gaia's time. I didn't notice till I was reading over my memories, and it feels like longer than that. I aged from five to a full grown adult in that short time, so it's to be expected that time seemed longer.
It also made me try and remember things before the curse. After so long though, it's hard. But I do miss that wild freedom of being able to do whatever I wanted that came with childhood.
Muris is home, I've heard. That's about all I've heard. After we lost the Moon Court fey, I've been sitting up here feeling guilt as I've never felt before. I understand that we could have lost Muris because we weren't organised. And I cannot blame Equus or Pappila, both are still not adults.
I should have done a better job in watching over the fey.
Aesculus has not been around for some time, and I miss him. I hope he's safe. With the Moon Court back, I can't help but worry for those I care for. Him most of all... still, I'm sure he knows exactly how to take care of himself. Without even being sure that he is in the castle still, eh could be in Gaia, I'm considering sending him a gift and a letter. I would like to go to his chambers and visit him there, but I'm sure that it's improper. The gift is already daunting, I'm not sure what to give him. And with Neith so distracted all the time, perhaps I can't get into Gaia to find something at all?
...Sometimes I do feel like a caged bird. Why shouldn't I visit him in his chambers, or go to Gaia alone without Gaian sized protection? Or go riding out in the open, with a sword at my side and that wild feeling of freedom?
The answer to all three is obvious.
As restless as I feel, I still feel guilt for how Muris's return played out. And I have a gift to think about. I'll remain here for a while longer.
-Filix
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:18 am
Filix sat in the gardens as she usually did. That part wasn't unusual for the fern fey, it was her second home.
But it really wasn't normal of Filix to be sitting there with a giggling box. A present from her King and his Kithain, Filix assumed...
And the expression on her face showed that she wasn't feeling too comfortable about this box. It just didn't act right.
She'd gotten the box a few days earlier. It seemed safe enough then! It didn't tremble, or giggle, or snort. But it was doing a lot of that now. Filix had decided she'd feel safer outside with the box.
And then it started to really dance. All over the moss the box danced, while something inside attempted to get out.
A green claw burst out of a hole, and Filix let out a quiet scream. A CLAW. She stood up and backed away, as more of that claw showed itself. Whatever was inside was now trying to crawl out of the small hole made by the claw.
Bit by bit the creature got out. First the claw's arm, then a nose, teeth... teeth which started to eat the paper as the body crawled out...
Until there was a nice shiny green gargole sitting on the grass in front of Filix, grinning stupidly up at her with shreads of the wreaked cardboard box decorating it's green body.
As strange as the thign was, Filix was sure she'd seen them before. They had been grey then. Stone.
But why on earth was there now a giggling gargole clinging to Filix's leg, and finishing off the paper it'd just emerged from?
But she had seen it somewhere. And that was what made the appearnce of this... this... green creature... so much more strange.
It was one of the now missing gargoles that Filix could recall seeing around the building.
"...Hello?"
The Gargoyle answered with a very loud and proounced 'BURP!'. It seemed to find this highly amusing, and was soon rolling around on the grass clutching to the round green belly.
Filix stared in disbelief. She stepped back, and started back for her Chambers. Maybe it'd return to the place the gargoyles had come from?
Instead, it followed her. And before Filix knew it, she had a flesh and bone gargoyle living in her chambers.
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:01 am
RP Session-
Characters: Filix, Muris
RP Threads- Pgs 7-8 of the Stables, Pg 1-2 of the Practice Yard.
The soft whickering sighs of the horses soothed her. It had been quite some time since the incident which had so scarred her, but though she felt healed she still tended to stay in the stables more often than not. Perhaps it was the sweet scent of grain and hay. Perhaps it was the monotony of her routine, the busy affair of it all. Keeping her mind off things. Things like spiders and cats and...a certain elk that had all but completely disappeared.
She brushed the coat of a dappled grey stallion gently. She was getting rather fond of him, really. He had very similar markings to her own Alucina, and seemed to get along with her very well. She thought that perhaps some day she might ask King Cervus about breeding them, though he seemed to be away on his own mission just as Alces was.
She sighed softly, breathing in the scent of the soapy shampoo she had just rinsed out of the stallion's hair. This was indeed the best part of being a stablemouse. Even though you were a bit lower rank than others, you had to freedom to keep to yourself if you felt the need.
Still, she wouldn't have minded a bit of company.
Filix had been coming down to the stables more and more lately for her own reasons. She liked riding Fera through the winter storms, or the gales, or through the snow... it gave her a sort of wild freedom that took Filix's mind off her own worries.
And if it wasn't right for riding, Filix would just sit close to him. She liked the smells of the stables, she'd liked them since she was little.
Today though, Filix was coming down just for the company of the horses. She was slow and feeling a little lazy as she slipped the door in, and it took a few moments for Filix to put a name to the beautiful adult fey standing there.
"...Muris? Is that you?"
Being what she was, Muris was a little less than startled at the appearance of another Fey in the stables. She could hear her, for one thing, approaching. For another...well, it wasn't as though noone was taking care of their horses, afterall.
She did, however, start a bit at the sound of the voice that came forth. She had seen Filix about a bit more than usual lately, but she hadn't really encountered her. Muris had been too busy with other things most of the time-- there was always tack to be cleaned and mended and horses to be bathed and such.
"Oh...Hello Lady Filix," she dipped her head respectfully, coming out of the stall and waving the brush in her general direction,
"I was simply finishing up with this stallion....can I help you with something?"
She could barely look at the woman. She remembered all to well that day she had sobbingly all but confessed her love for Alces to her. It was a bit...embarrasing to think on. It had been very late that night, though, and she couldn't help but remember Filix as the girl she'd spent so many days playing games with when they were children before the Curse.
Filix moved over to Muris and the stallion's stall, reaching up to stroke his cheek gently. "What a beautiful stallion, is he yours?"
She blinked, and then shook her head. Filix still liked to think of Muris as the way she used to, as a friend first. When she was little, she delighted in the games she'd play with the little girl in the stables. "Not really. Unless you don't mind a bit of company? I've been coming down here for Fera's company, but I'm afraid he cannot talk back to me."
Filix paused then, and after a few moments of consideration, added carefully, "And I was worried for you when you were taken earlier. I'm glad that you've returned."
Muris let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't going to get all formal on her, at least. She was glad their friendship hadn't changed just because she was now an adult and officially just a stablemouse.
"No, he isn't mine." She gently ruffled the stallion's mane, and he whickered gently at her before turning back to his feed now that he felt he was finished with his combing,
"Though I wouldn't mind breeding him with my Alucina. They would have such lovely offspring. Of course, she's terribly partial to Orin, I think that's mostly my fau..." she stopped, realizing she was rambling, and also dredging up thoughts she hadn't intended to deal with.
"I certainly wouldn't mind a little company. I daresay I've been keeping to myself to...well, to get through things, but I could use someone to talk to for a bit."
"They would have, but if she's got her mind set on another stallion, it's usually hard to change her mind..." Filix paused for a few moments, then twisted around to look in Fera's direction. As if he'd expected her to, he was already there and waiting for her. "Fera, I believe, favors all the mares. I think he would love any mare paired with him."
She grinned slightly at Muris, then took her hand. "Why don't we go for a walk as we talk then? Sometimes it's easiest to get through things when it's spoken out loud."
Muris couldn't help but smile at Fera's antics.
"Ah, yes, that is true. I think you'd have an easy enough time breeding him if it came to that...though he's still young, I wouldn't worry about it just yet."
She closed the door to the grey stallion's stall and made sure it was locked tightly before brushing her hands off on her skirt and nodding,
"I suppose that would not be a bad idea. Did you have a particular location in mind, or would you rather walk up and down the stables' aisles?"
She was teasing for the most part, but she wasn't sure how comfortable she was leaving the vicinity of the stables when she didn't really have to. Afterall, she had been sheltering herself in them for the past few months but for the few times she'd gone to see if Alces was back yet.
She squeezed the other woman's hand lightly. It was nice to have someone to talk to, whether she felt much like talking or not. Or really, just someone she knew had friendly intentions. Sometimes it was hard to judge the true methods behind the politicking in the castle.
"I'm glad for that, as well. I doubt this stable needs young Feras running around just yet." Filix grnned, and shrugged. "There are the gardens, or the fields? It is cold outside, but I don't think it will rain on us."
She was half-leading Muris out to the door already. Filix had suspected that half the reason she hadn't seen Muris on one of her daily walks, or her rides, was because the mouse fey hadn't been out as much as she should have been. "And the clean crisp air is good for the lungs, I think."
She was pretty sure the fur on her clothing would keep her warm enough-- it never got -too- terribly cold around the Castle area. Still, she was a bit trepiditious about charging about around the castle grounds in the open,
"There haven't been any attempts from the Moon Court to avenge themselves in any way they might feel necessary, have there?" she hadn't heard anything, but that didn't mean nothing had happened,
"I mean...it's quite safe, isn't it?"
Of course it was safe. It was the castle grounds. It wasn't as though they were wandering about in the forest. She was just being overly nervous. Still, Muris was similar to the small prey creature that was her totem in more ways than one.
"I shouldn't like to be attacked again. Once was bad enough."
"None that I've heard of. And I've been right up to the netural areas, and still seen no one. So I think they've crawled back into that dark hole, and are hiding there like the animals they are. It'll be very safe."
She pushed the door open, and stepped out. Filix waited for Muris, and gently shut the door again.
"And if they did attack, I would defend you." Filix glanced around, then pulled aside the cloak to show Muris the sword that she'd faithfully kept for months. She still wasn't sure if it was right for a Countess... or a women at all... to want to learn combat-based things. But she trusted Muris.
"The only exciting thing happening in this land lately, are the shifting seasons. Everyone's waiting for Spring, I suppose."
Muris' eyes widened a bit at the sight of the sword. She had never mistaken Filix for a normal countess, of course, but it was still a bit odd to see a sword on a noblewoman's hip at all.
At least it was a ladylike sword, though. She recognized it as a rapier, the kind used by most nobles. Fast and slim, it was a lightweight jabbing weapon more than a slashing weapon. It didn't require quite as much strength as the standard knightly broadsword, either.
She would know-- she'd been secretly practicing her blacksmithing abilities and reading up on the various types of swords and other weapons.
"That sword is well suited to you," she said softly, wonderously, "I haven't ever tried to wield one myself. I have been practicing with the bow quite a bit, though."
Filix was pretty pleased at Muris's reaction- she liked being a bit rebellious. And had started to enjoy the reactions, though rare, on people's faces when they caught sight of it.
She stroked it for a moment, then flicked the cloak back over. Once the fabric was hanging over Filix's hip, it looked normal.
"You understand swords then? I... it's not the first one I've ever wielded. Pappila's kithain gave me an elvish sword when I was a teenager. I've tried a bow, but it was never suited for me." Filix paused, as the idea of Muris using a bow sunk in a little bit more. Her own eyes widened this time as she asked, "You can use it though? How well now?"
Muris' face flushed a little bit, but she was proud of her ability-- she'd come a long way in the past few months, afterall.
"I...I should say that I'm quite decent with it.." she murmured softly. Then she got a bit of a mischievous look in her eyes,
"Would you like to see? I could show you. I made myself a proper bow, though I could use some work in the arrows."
She would just have to run to the tack closet to grab it, afterall. And she hadn't practiced yet today, so there wasn't any harm...particularly if Filix could possibly help her learn a little better, though she said she had no talent with the bow herself...and Muris supposed the other woman didn't have any formal training in combat anyhow, as noblewomen, at least, were not generally given that sort of training.
Still, she was certain Filix could help a bit. Perhaps even with the sword-- it wouldn't hurt to learn how to fight in close combat as well as with a ranged weapon..
Filix smiled at Muris's flush. She was a bit surprised that she hadn't noticed anything, but then, Filix didn't see everything. A fey could have been stalking her chambers for all she knew, with the attention she'd paid to the Castle itself lately.
"I would love to see your skills. You made one as well? That's a skill I could only dream of having, Muris." Filix was genuinely impressed by Muris. She nudged at her gently, and teased, "What other talents have you hidden from the world?"
Muris blushed,
"Oh, I am not quite talented at it yet...but I'm getting in some practice. Soon I'll be able to make decent weapons of all sorts..it's something I took up while I was...in hiding..I needed something to occupy the hours, and with all the forging materials right there..."
She shrugged. Taking a few steps to the side, she opened the door to the tack room and pulled out an absolutely beautiful looking bow, and quiver with a few arrows settled in it,
"We'll go to the practice yard, and you can show me your work with the sword as well. I have to admit I'm curious as to how self-teaching the sword works."
Her curiosity had been bugging her for a while now about Muris's experiences with the Moon Court. Filix couldn't be polite about it anymore, so very carefully she said, "Muris... if you ever need to talk about before. Or if you just want to spend time around someone, even if it's only in the castle... you can always come to me."
As Muris brought out the bow, Filix gaped at it openly. It was perfect looking, and though Filix had no experience in bows, she was sure that it had have been made by someone with advanced skills.
"You should give yourself much more credit, Muris. I think it's quite a talent... and perhaps one day you could show me how to take care of my sword, or how to repair it? I'd love to learn."
Muris had the decency to blush at the compliment,
"Oh, I still have a lot of work to do, but it is a fun way to pass the time," she all but whispered.
The mouse turned to study Filix carefully before answering the other part of the question,
"I suppose..it would be good to have someone to talk to...about then. I've mostly been trying to lock it away, but that can't be too healthy. Sissy says that I should try to learn to let others in a bit more."
She didn't mention that she often felt that there wasn't anyone she -could- talk to. Afterall, despite being friendly, most of the Fey -were- still nobles, and she could not expect them to take much interest in the woes of a fieldmouse.
"You can always talk to me about it, and please don't try and lock it away. Even if you decide to write it down instead of speaking about it... locking things away only makes you feel better for a short time."
Filix paused, and looked around the area they'd walked to, she didn't recognize this area. But then, she had been sticking to the same gardens lately. It was probably an area that had been overgrown when she was younger. Filix avoided some of the areas around the castle still because she remembered them as being overgrown and full of blackberries.
Muris slowly ushered Filix over towards the area set aside for archery practice, shaking her head a bit as thoughts tumbled around in it. Her father had always warned her not to become too friendly with the nobility-- they often found friendships with commoners more like having a pet than a friend. Still, she did not think Filix was this way. Or, for that matter, any of the other Fey currently in existence. Perhaps it had only been in his time that such things were true.
"I think..that you are right. I shall have to find someone to confide in." Though Filix had mentioned something of the sort, she did not want to presume anything, and felt that she ought to wait until Filix offered to begin telling her of her escapade.
She pulled the bowstring taught, fitting an arrow to it and letting it fly free. The arrow soared a bit off, missing the center by just a fraction, and Muris sighed,
"It's these bloody feathers. I had better find a replacement sort of feather soon-- these simply throw off the arrow."
"You can have me to confide in at any time. It'll be almost like how we were when we were children... only our worries then were how to sneak the sweets out of the castle without the boys noticing them." Filix grinned at that memory. One particular time had involved Muris pretending to be in trouble, and Filix sprinting for the trees with a box of chocolates.
She watched the arrow fly, and blinked when Muris sighed at that shot. It may not have been in the very middle... but it still would have reached the intended target. "What feathers would work better?"
"I'm not certain which feathers would work better. I have to find some different sorts and try them out, I suppose. I haven't had opportunity to do that just yet, so I've been focusing on working with the metals more."
She trotted forward to pull the arrow out of the bale, regarding her noble friend carefully. She remembered well the incident to which she had referred. It had all worked out well in the end, if not specifically how they had hoped it would-- if she remembered rightly, one of the boys had found out and they'd all shared the sweets, but none of the adults had. Had the boy been Alces? It might have...
"I suppose you're right, though this time, I think this should have to stay between just the two of us."
"The forest is dark and the birds aren't many at this time of the year, but spring is coming quickly. And some books in the library may know what feathers are suitable for arrows." Filix paused for a moment, as the word library brought the face of someone who she used to find there often.
For a few seconds Filix let herself think about him, the frustration at the way he'd done what Equus had done, and just vanished. Right after they publicly become a courting couple... then she shook the handsome face and the memories that came with it out of her head.
Filix nodded gravely at Muris, and agreed, "It will stay between the two of us. I wouldn't share your secrets with a soul without your blessings."
"Perhaps I shall check the library sometime, then.." she offered, though she had little intention of doing so. She didn't particularly want to go back inside the castle until Alces came back.
She noticed a strange look on her friend's face, and wondered what was bothing her. Not that it was a stablemouse's place, of course, to wonder even..but she had to try.
"You know..if something is bothering you, you can tell me as well. I shall tell you all of my escapade with the Moon Court, but I wish you to know that the favour would easily be returned."
Listening ears with unjudging sentiments were difficult to find, as she well knew. How much harder for a lady than a commoner? Much, she would suppose, as ladies seemed more inclined to discuss fashion than true feelings.
Filix blinked, and sighed. "I appreciate that offer, Muris. And I would be honored if you would listen to my woes, though I believe my woes with men compared to your experiences with the Moon Court are very trivial."
She stopped herself before saying 'my woes with love'. Filix hadn't seen Alces for a long time either, where as she had sometimes seen other fey from distances. And Muris had once told her of her feelings for the fey. Filix smiled weakly. "Though maybe we share some problems after all."
The mouse's eyebrows rose a bit at this comment, and she fitted another arrow to the bow while still keeping her eyes on her companion,
"Is that so?" she asked, more curious than anything else. She had not heard anything about a lover of any sort for Filix, but then, she wouldn't have. She never had spent much time listening to gossip, afterall, and less inside the castle proper.
"I should hope you haven't had encounters with any of those Moon Court villains." her voice was half-teasing. She was fairly certain those were not the woes she meant at all.
Filix watched Muris's actions with the bow, she was curious about how it was done. She'd watch this time and see how Muris did it, maybe she could see a trick.
She relaxed at the teasing and grinned. "Of course not. I'd imagine that those Moon Court men could not compare to our Sun Court men, in more ways than once."
The hint was slightly inappropriate, but Filix didn't really care. She was with Muris, and she had to remember to relax around friends.
The mouse nodded rather solemnly,
"They are -vicious- scoundrels. Not at all like the noble men around here who are so courageous and strong.." she sighed softly, thinking of Alces, and loosed the arrow a bit more to the side for her distraction.
Muris winced,
"Ah...that was terrible. I should not distract myself. But I can't help wondering when Alces will be back. I miss him. He's always been here for me."
Really, she would have preferred him as confidante in many ways, but there were some things she would find difficult to speak with him about. Still, at least he would have been able to discuss the Moon Court stuff with her, having been with her for the initial shock at least.
"Though I'm glad he came back here instead of trying to rescue me. He is not so gifted with combat, and they may have decided one prisoner was enough and killed him."
And... Muris didn't get it. Filix shrugged that off. It was always likely that another way of looking at what she'd said about the men would come into Muris's mind when the fey was feeling a little more cheerful.
"Maybe the feather's not the problem then. He's gone? I admit- I haven't seen him for a long time. But I can't blame you for feeling distracted. How do you manage to get something like that off your mind?" Filix sighed, "I would love to say that no fey would do such a thing, but I know they would. I'm also glad he returned straight away. If it had been up to me, we would have left for you straight away but..."
She trailed off. Filix wasn't going to speak badly of the men, no matter how frustrated with them she got. Instead she sighed. "Our men are better in many ways... yet sometimes I feel as if they do things without asking a women for her thoughts. I was so relieved to see you were back, I was almost ready to go over there alone for you."
Muris' red eyes flashed a little bit, and she nearly dropped the bow she was holding as she whirled around to look at Filix,
"Be glad that you did not. The Moon Court is dangerous. When I was trapped in their cells, tortured, all I wanted was to die. You are stronger than I, but I have no doubt that their numbers would have overpowered you, and there would have been either two of us captured or one of us dead."
She shivered at the thought, remembering the time she spent curled up in that cage, forgetting everything but a desire to have done with it already. Watching for the spider woman subconsciously, unable to cling properly to consciousness. No, she would not wish that on anyone else. Not ever.
"The men were right to wait as they did. These things cannot be rushed into. Still, it would not hurt for them to lend their ears to you as well-- you know as much as they about such matters, I'm sure."
Though perhaps her impulsiveness might have hurt the cause. There was no telling now, really.
"You're right, it would have been a very stupid thing to do. But I've never been very good at being patient, and even worse at waiting for something to happen." Filix flushed a bit, "I cannot say it would have been the smart thing to do."
She stepped forward, and put a hand on Muris's shoulder. "I'm sorry if I angered you. The idea of it happening to you was unbearable, and I've never been very good at waiting when I know something unbearable is happening. I think you were always the one who was stronger, when it came to controlling the mind."
Muris almost laughed at the idea that she could be in some way stronger than the Countess, but held it in. It was true that she had a bit more self-control, but sometimes impulsiveness had it's benefits.
"No, you are right. I think I would have been on edge myself if one of my friends had been captured in such a manner. Though, I am much too cautious to even think of charging into the castle on my own."
It was part of her mousy nature, she knew, to be careful in any situation. After all, you never had any idea when a predator could be looming over in the shadows.
She motioned to the bow after trotting over to retrieve the second arrow,
"Would you like to try it?"
"And I'd have ended up in a cell next to you if I'd have followed through with my feelings, and probably have been wondering when I could get a kick. And had myself in worse trouble." Filix smiled weakly. She still felt almost as if she should have gone over there... if only to distract their attention from Muris to herself.
Which, logically, was a pretty stupid way to feel.
"Me? I don't know... I'm not very good with a bow." Filix looked embarrassed, "I'm afraid that I'd break it trying."
This time, Muris did have to laugh,
"Believe me, you won't break it. It's incredibly sturdy, if nothing else." She ran her fingers along it, allowing just a little bit of pride in her manner.
"And so far as that goes, you would have been in a cell next to me only if they had decided to keep both of us alive." She shivered again, forgetting the pride from the bow and remembering again the insanity of the Moon Court,
"It's better to stay away from that lot. I'd rather die than end up there again. The spider one...she was the worst, I think. The cat was bad, but more because he startled me and frightened me being a cat than because he was particularly intimidating on his own. But the spider has all sorts of poisons and crazy mixtures."
"I will now. Though I will more than likely end up stepping on every spider I see from now on, for your benifit. And don't worry, Muris. We'll never let them take you back there, or any other fey. We know about them now, they can't surprise us."
She took the bow, looking a bit embarrassed as she tried to hold it. "Now, let's work out this bow. It's beautiful... but I doubt it can do everything on it's own. So let's see what I can do..."
Filix did end up holding it close to being right. But the shot wasn't good at all, it ended up hitting the edge of the target and flipping onto the ground several meters away.
She glanced around... she could handle Muris seeing a bad shot, but Filix would have been mortified if Aesculus had seen that.
Muris laughed,
"I mostly end up avoiding whatever spiders I see. I never did like cats, though, so that's not a worry. We don't have any stable cats, even if horses do tend to like them...and I know that you will not let them take me again. Still, it was bad enough the once."
She had to laugh again at the terrible arc of her arrow,
"Ah..well, you might want to try aiming next time," she teased, "I've found that that helps."
She took on a more serious tone, though, a moment later,
"How about this: I will teach you to use the bow with at least some efficiency, if you would teach me to wield a sword. It would not hurt to have some sort of close combat ability."
"I don't like cats... though nothing seems to bother me because of my totum. Other than fungal rot, or something else that kills away ferns." Filix's face went bright red, till she somewhat was the color of Rosa's hair. "I did aim, I can't help it if the arrow dislikes me."
She thought on Muris's offer only for a moment before grinning and nodding. "I think that's a very good idea, Muris. But... I'd like to keep it secret for now. I'm still not sure how the men would take to us women learning these skills."
The mouse nodded,
"Oh, of course. I wouldn't tell anyone. Well, except perhaps for Alces, but only if he asked, and I wouldn't tell him about you practicing as well."
She nodded thoughtfully to herself. Not that that was a worry right now, with him off on some sort of mission for King Cervus.
Muris smiled,
"Here, you were holding it about right, but you have to remember to look at the target the right way in proportion with the arrow and the bow..." she wasn't sure precisely how to explain it with words, so she demonstrated instead, lifting the bow and eying the target properly.
"Just so."
"I couldn't expect you to hold things back from Alces, of course. And if Aesculus... I may tell him what we are doing if he asks, but not about you as well. It is unlikely though, as he's ...well, not around." Filix added quickly, "He's often busy with his duties."
She watched Muris, and took the bow again. Filix's hold was a little better this time, but it was clear that she'd need to practice a bit more. "Like this?"
Muris tilted her head a bit,
"Aesculus?" she queried, her manner carrying no mocking whatsoever. Muris was quite fond of young Aesculus when she had been little, but she had not seen him in quite some time. She wondered briefly how his mice friends were doing.
She observed the stance this time, and shook her head,
"Not quite..." slowly, the mouse moved Filix around a bit so that she was settled properly.
"There, try that."
"Yes... we were courting. I'm not sure if we still are. I haven't seen him for a very long time, and he hasen't contacted me. Or tried to. I don't know if he really feels as he said he did..." Filix added quickly, "But it's not anything too worrisome, I suppose."
She let Muris move her, and Filix paused for a few moments. She tried to memorize the way she stood, the way she held it. And then when Filix let go of the arrow, it hit around the middle of the target.
"Yes! I did it! I should get my own bow, to practice this more..." Filix grinned at Muris. "I have a good teacher."
Muris smiled,
"Practice is the best teacher," she said sagely, then set her arms down at her sides, watching the other carefully.
"Courting? Really. I did not know. I cannot say that I'm surprised, though. Aesculus is a wonderful man. I think that perhaps he has just been busy. Maybe you should leave him a note or something asking him to come see you when he is not?"
She had done as much when Alces disappeared, but then he'd gone on his mission, and all. They hadn't even been formally courting, either.
Practice continued on in this fashion for a while, and the two exchange a few more stories about the old days when they were both children playing in the stables and Muris' parents and Filix's parents were the ones doing all the real work.
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:49 am
 Quote: 16th June
Journal,
I've been venturing out more and more on my own. I enjoy it, I love the dampness of winter, and the smell of the wet ground, and the lush green of the trees that keep their leaves. And I love the peace and quiet out there. It is quiet here too... but there's a deep peace about a forest's calm quiet.
And Fera is often brought with me. Not always, but I think the spirited colt is calming down a little now.
I saw Muris in the stables. She's grown into an adult as well, and she's beautiful. I feel very guilty for not seeking her out earlier, her experiences with the Moon Court worry me. But she talked a little about it. And she said that Alces was on a quest, which would explain why I've also missed his face around the Castle.
But I haven't seen Aesculus. And it worries me. I intend on making sure he allows me in tonight. I'll fly up to his window and knock on it. It's harder to ignore someone at your window, when you live high up in a Castle.
I've been informed also of a meeting tonight. Late at night. I'll be going to that, for how often does such a thing happen?
-Filix
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:54 am
RP Session-
Characters: Filix, Aesculus
RP Threads- Pgs 1-2 of "A Fern rapping at the window."
Filix stood at the wall of the castle, hands on hips and wings fluttering irritably. She was staring at one particular window, eyes locked on it for any sign of movement from beyond the curtains.
She had been waiting for Aesculus for a long time. Filix had been unusualy patient, and had tried to wait as long as she possibly could. Patience was a virtue, after all.
But now, it was just a burden.
She started to climb up side of the castle, her wings fluttering to keep Filix going up in a straight line. Sure... she could have gone to the door to Aesculus's chambers. But Filix had decided that he'd be more likely to answer a knock on his window instead.
It was a hard climb, even with the aid of Filix's wings. She finally sat on the edge of the window outside his chambers and paused to catch her breath.
Then she rapped on the window hard and waited for an answer.
After a few moments, a slightly disheveled Aesculus came to his window, yawning as he opened the curtain. His short hair was tangled and mussed, and he wore no shirt, only some loose black shorts for modesty's sake. It seemed even when he was alone, he had a need for some decency. He looked behind him, as if considering getting himself a robe, but he was more concerned about Filix.
Throwing open the window, he extended a hand to her, ushering her in. The room was dark except for a few nearly burnt out candles on his desk whose pools of wax were eating up the wicks. Even though it wasn't dark out, he appeared to have fallen asleep.
"Please please, come in. You must be freezing out there!" Not to mention the wintery weather felt blistering cold to his bare skin.
She watched the figure come to the window through the glass, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the room. It was a bright winter's day compared to the darkness of Aesculus's chambers.
Filix caught sight of him, and stared for a few moments while he approached, then looked behind him for something. She'd almost forgotten how handsome he was. Esspically without a shirt on.
It was a good thing that she'd decided to climb to his window then. If she'd tried the door, Aesculus might have tried to dress.
Climbing through the window and standing inside, Filix shook her head. She was going to say 'Not at all', but changed her mind and decided on, "I'm only slightly frozen, nothing to worry about. Did I wake you?"
Aesculus closed the window and latched it, pulling the curtains over the panes so as to not let too much cold seep through the glass. He then hurried over to his personal fireplace, putting a few logs in it and lighting it. Of course the fire was lit to help keep them (speicifically Filix really) warm, but it also added a bit of a romantic atmosphere to the dark room.
As he gently guided her towards the fire, for once his stoic visage faltered and he looked perhaps a bit bashful. "Well, I of course didn't mean to sleep in the middle of the day. I have been keeping all sorts of odd hours, I admit. I fear the king's absence has made me into undisciplined wretch." He pulled a chair over to in front of the fireplace for her to sit on, and then started to search for his robe.
The past few months Aesculus had been neglecting to keep his room clean. It had definately evolved into a bachelor's pad. Papers and books overflowed his desk onto the floor. Burned out and half-melted candles littered his desk as well. Clothes were splayed on his chest and hanging from another chair in the corner, and it was unclear as to whether they were flung there to wash or to dry. In addition, there were strange boards, plastic and metal pieces, and dice on the floor shoved in a corner.
A few of Aesculus's resident mice scurried towards the fireplace and sunned themselves in front of it.
She watched him, not at all feeling cold. It was really very hard to feel cold when you watched a fey you were attracted to move around the room like that.
Filix accepted that story. That would explain why she'd not seen Aesculus for long. If he'd been up at strange hours, while she slept, she could hardly catch him. Still, as inpropar as it may have been, Filix wouldn't have minded what hour he came to visit...
"I'm sure the King is safe." Filix reassured him, as she glanced around the place. Her eyes were used to the light now, and she could see the state of the room clearly for herself. "I... I missed you though. I was worried. "
He had paused in his search for his robe. Aesculus didn't want to make excuses for himself. Part of him had perhaps been a bit scared of his attachment, his romantic infatuation even, with Filix. He had always prided himself on logic, reason, and being level-headed. When he was in the prescense of his long-time friend, all of these failed him, and he found himself consumed and overwhelmed with irrational, VERY uncourtly thoughts and desires. The last thing he wanted to do was to say or do something to Fiilix that would upset her, or even worse, do something that would tarnish their reputations.
He knew he should follow his own advice of not running from a problem, but to confront it. It just was a lot easier to disperse advice at times rather than follow it himself.
Walking over to her, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. He could smell the fresh scent of winter still on her skin and in her hair. As he inhaled her scent, he scolded himself. Although she had not said it, he knew he had hurt her despite his attempts to protect her from himself.
"I apologize, my love. I... I fear sometimes what you do to me. I wanted to be sure that you were more than a mere infatuation in my mind... and I needed to distance myself so that I did not act rashly on my emotions." His husky voice was near her ear as he spoke.
She stared back at the fire after she'd told him that, deciding that it was enough. Filix had been angry earlier on, but she wasn't now. If she was going to tell him off... she could do it later.
Filix stiffened at the unexpected embrace from behind, but only for a moment. Then she had leaned back into him, hands reaching up to rest on his arms.
After a few moments Filix replied softly, "No need to apologize..." as the words he'd just spoken to her tumbled over and over in her head. What did she do to him? Was it as powerful and consuming as the effect he had on her? "I hope that what I do isn't unpleasent."
Feeling a little bold, she murmered, "And I must admit... I've liked your rash emotions."
He chuckled a little, some it of it nervous laughter. Inwardly he was sure she wouldn't like the rash actions that cycled through the male mind on a regular basis. "I don't think that acting on emotions, though, would be entirely beneficial to my position. Imagine if I, the high advisor, was prone to mad rages and urged the king into frequent wars?"
He made a small, visible hand motion to the tiny little mice that were near their feat, enjoying the warmth of the fire. One of them, a large grayish-white mouse, squeeked and scurried off towards the back of the room. She could hear his heartbeat accelerating through his chest that was pressed to her back.
Was he nervous?
"No, in Court such advice to a King would be a little disasterious." Filix agreed, though she couldn't picture Aesculus suddenly standing up in the middle of Court and yelling 'To War!'. The idea made her want to laugh out loud.
Instead, she just laughed lightly and reminded him, "But you're not my high advisor... just Aesculus to me. Here with me you can act on emotions."
Filix watched the fireplace still, but her mind was on the warm body pressed up from behind of her. She could feel his heart beating, and Filix was fascinated by the speed of it. Was that her doing as well?
"If you think you only affect me while you are around, you are sorely mistaken. I am not consumed with such rash urges, thoughts, and I dare say desires when it is convenient; I can be doing something mundane or or even something of great importance when my mind wanders for but a moment. That is all it takes." His eyes were on the flames as he spoke, although his mind was pre-occupied with more important thoughts.
The sound of tiny feet on stone and rug could be heard scurrying back over towards them. It sounded as if at this moment there was more than one coming towards her, but two or three mice. Aesculus had accumulated friends in her absence. He had not the heart to do anything but care for them, and so the small population had grown slightly.
After a moment she felt him release his grasp on her waist to lean down and pet the mice before he straightened back up. They rushed over to the fire, but the larger grayish-white mouse kept his eyes on the two, as if he were studying them.
"Are you warmer now?"
"That's your own fault for not having me around more." Filix pretended to scold, but her cheeks had gone as red as Rosa's hair at the words. They were the best complement she'd ever had, though she felt a bit ashamed at the same time.
And these 'urges' intrigued her. Filix would have asked more about them if it was proper... but for now, she'd just have to muse on it. "Perhaps when the King returns, you'll have much to fill your mind."
She watched another group of mice head for the fireplace, amused. Filix had found a love of mice lately, partly because of Muris's totem... and partly because she'd always liked to watch them in the stables. But she had wondered why there were less down there these days.
Now she knew. They'd all discovered Aesculus as well. They were indeed smart creatures, to want to spend time around him.
Aesculus fell silent, not beause he was ignoring her, but because he was deep in thought. She felt his heart racing again, the fast beating of it resonating through his chest and her back. As he put his arms around her waist again, he started to speak aloud.
"In these seven months I hvae done much thinking." He cleared his throat, and his mouth suddenly felt very dry. It was because he was nervous, of course, and he hoped that she couldn't tell. He took her left hand in both of his, and with his head still on her shoulder, gently slid a ring onto her ring finger. It was a polished brown ringring that was almost black, and some silver was affixed to one side, where it held a jade stone that had been carved into a leaf.
"The ring is made of an old oak tree that turned to stone it was so old, and so they had to use both skills in the forge and magic to make it, and furthermore to affix the stone. I wanted something of both of us in the ring... although the jeweler couldn't make a fern so much as a leaf." He spoke almost too quickly, his voice smooth but edged with nervousness.
He turned her around to face him, his hands gently holding her shoulders, his eyes mirroring his excitement, worry, anxiety. Although he would not admit it, he was barely able to keep himself from shaking with all the emotions flowing through him. "Filix... I wish to propose to you. Because in these seven months of abscence, my love for you has not faltered. I know this is perhaps rash... too quick... but I fear waiting. I fear what we could do if we fall prey to our emotions, and I don't want your reputation tarnished. And I promise you, I have thought of this, explored this thought thoroughly... and I look at other women, and not even the slightest stirring of desire is in me. You are the only woman who inexplicably has this effect on me. And so... so I beg of you to consider taking my hand in marriage."
Filix froze when he took her left hand, and watched in a daze as he slipped a ring onto a finger- the finger that she'd always dreamed about having a ring. Even when she was a little girl who'd dreamt about Knights and monsters and fighting bad moon courtiers... she still had liked this part of being a woman.
She stared at the ring resting on her finger in wonder as he described it to her, unable to answer. It didn't matter that it wasn't a fern, she wanted to answer, it was ... it was perfect.
Letting him turn her around, Filix gazed back, tears starting to sting at her eyes. She tried to hold them back, she was stronger than that, but it was impossible. They just slipped out as the happiness overflowed, and she had to reach up to wipe some of them away hastily with her right hand.
"Of course I'll marry you." Filix whispered, voice croaking, stepping close to him to embrace him tightly, her face buried in his shoulder.
Aesculus held her to him, but despite the fact he had proposed, he was surprised. He was surprised that she had accepted. After all, he was the one who had holed himself away, secluded. They hadn't even spent that much time together, but he felt he had to propose, even without his king's consent. Because he kept thinking about her, and after months apart, still wanted to be with her. He couldn't bear the idea of anyone else marrying her.
It had startled him, because it had hit so suddenly. They had been friends, and she was an enchanting young woman, and suddenly they were adults. He found her rebellion slightly refreshing, her honesty enchanting, her open nature and strong sense of self intoxicating. She had been born a countess, but he knew inside she wasn't the typical lady; she held onto the position out of respect for her ancestors. Her dreams... that is what he loved best. That she had high dreams, she had desires that were entirely the fruit of her heart and mind, and not of a position she was born into.
Filix was different. He sincerely hoped she would not change.
"All I ask," he said quietly, his voice cracking slightly with emotion, "is that you let me tell Cervus."
Filix's mind wasn't as active as Aesculus's at that moment, her thoughts, feelings and sensations had all intermingled into one indescribably feeling of contentment, happiness, love, even anticipation. And on top of all of that, an awareness of every twitch and movement of the body she held onto.
She didn't need to think right then, and besides... who needed the rational thoughts of the mind when with someone they loved? Besides, that would provoke the annoyance at Aesculus for the time he'd tried to be noble... by shutting himself away.
Filix shoved that all aside for now.
One silly thought that had nothing to do with the moment did pop into her mind though, and she grinned stupidly. Sometime in the future she would have to tell Muris where some of the mice had been running off to... and how Filix had found out.
She looked up at Aesculus, and nodded, before wiping away some of the other tears that had escaped. "Of course. I'll not say a word till you've told him."
The thought did spark a memory in Filix's mind. She stood back, and told Aesculus with the hint of excitement... for who couldn't be excited by a meeting in the dark of night, "You reminded me. The Court is invited by the King to meet this eve. He must be returning tonight, or just be recently returned. Should we go? I could go first, to allow you to speak to him in private later on."
He looked down at her, noting her tears. Taking a hand off her waist, he moved it to her cheek and with his finger he gently wiped away the tears with tenderness. It would take some getting used to how vulnerable he felt around her sometimes, because she was seeing more of him than perhaps even Cervus. Leaning down slightly he kissed her forehead.
"Thank you. I have not yet consulted with him about our marriage." One would think he would consult his king, his best friend nonetheless, but Aesculus had not yet made the time. He had decided he would marry Filix and finally gotten a suitable ring when she had happened upon his window. Aes could only hope that Cervus would give his blessing.
Although he wasn't used using to taking advice, instead of recieving it, he nodded after some careful thought. "That sounds like an excellant idea. I hope he isn't in too dour a mood, though, for he might be agitated at me for not consulting him before proposing.... not that you need worry. It will not alter my intentions or will."
She grinned at him nervously, Filix wasn't used to suddenly crying when she felt emotional. It wasn't a side of her that she'd usually let out. But around him she didn't want to restrict and bottle up parts of her, like she did for public.
"You haven't?" Filix replied, surprised. And she was surprised. That part of it had slipped her mind quite a while beforehand. It was a quick reminder though of the reality beyond Aesculus's chambers.
"If he is in a bad mood tonight, then you could wait a few days. I don't mind. I can keep a secret close to my heart for a long time, I'll manage barelythis time."
He smiled a bit at the idea of Filix bursting with the information. Sometimes all her energy, when he was so laid back and calm, was so different that it made him smile. Aes didn't doubt that if he didn't tell Cervus within the week Filix wouldn't be able to contain herself.
"I will try to approach him as soon as I can. I am sure he will be pleasantly surprised that he won't have to arrange a wedding for me." He smoothed out some of her bangs. "I should let you go. I ought to bathe before tonight, and perhaps get a few garmets washed. I don't want to appear to be a beggar the first night of our engagement."
"I hope he will be, unless he had a perfect bride in mind. Like Rosa..." Filix's lips curled upwards in a grin at the idea of Rosa being married to Aesculus. That would have been a disaster. And that silly image took away images of him with someone else. "All right. I'll leave you to ready yourself. I'll see you tonight."
Filix nodded, leaned up to press her lips on his briefly for a sweet kiss, and stood back. She could have indulged in that for longer... but they both had things to do before the meeting.
And besides, he could see her after the meeting later tonight, for seconds... She grinned at him again, headed to the door to the halls and slipped out.
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Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:22 pm
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