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 Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:26 am
Anezka paced back and forth across the clearing as she silently berated herself for agreeing to this. It wasn't that she had anything against the male, simply that there were much better ways that her time right now ought to be spent. But if it would please her mother so much to see her wedded and made round with cubs she would at least entertain the fantasy. It was no ordinary male she was meeting, that much she knew. He was the son of the warlord and the high priestess, she ought to be giddy at the prospect, and he was a little younger than she herself was, but in truth she knew little of him aside from that.
Nothing was final yet, she reminded herself, it was only a meeting. Fortunately her mother had been convinced to stay out of it. While Anezka was not exactly a social butterfly, preferring to bury her nose in the records of the pride's history, she could handle herself in this. Taking a deep breath she puffed out her chest and sighed. Maybe it wouldn't be so terrible to settle down after all, at the very least it would give her someone to talk to who felt obligated not to yawn and walk away.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 9:44 am
He felt different since gaining his captaincy through challenge. It showed in how he carried himself, both in an increase in confidence and steadiness as well as the weight of leadership and responsibility weighing him down. He would never regret attaining this lifelong goal, but it definitely wasn't merely the honor he'd fantasized about since cubhood. It also hadn't been nearly enough to impress his father. He was beginning to think that nothing would do so. However, today was one step towards further doing his duty to the pride and to his father. It was time to take a mate, and sire the next generation of Stormborn.
He wove through the trees and rocky outcroppings, seeing a yellow form moving back and forth, back and forth. He paused and sent a mental plea that she not be a high-strung, nervous, clingy female. He supposed he could still deal with it, but he'd rather an intelligent, strong female he could respect and give honor to. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the foliage and into the clearing. Here goes. "Lawspeaker Anezka," he greeted her solemnly with a deep bow of his head. Best to start things off positively. "You honor me with your presence." His tone was dead serious, without a hint of mockery or ulterior motives.
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 5:02 pm
"Captain Hroarr," she replied with a soft smile, "I feel as if I'm the one who should be honored. My mother offers her respect and congratulations for your recent promotion, as do I." There was no hint of fawning in her voice, it was as if she were reading from some proclamation. It was a fine feat to become a captain, that much was true, but it meant little until it had been tested in the fires of tactical warfare. But perhaps his father had trained him well in that regard. "We're of an age, were I cut from a rougher cloth I may have become one of your reavers," she added, a sly look crossing her eyes for a moment, "But my life took me a different path." In truth it was a bit of a test. She could never imagine herself with someone who did not respect what she did and what the pride's history meant, bloodline or no.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:41 pm
This was beginning pleasantly at least. He was neither uncomfortable nor attached to the introductory greetings, compliments, and niceties. To his mind, a stormborn need not be a diplomat to others of his own pride. Often not to anyone at all, but that was another matter. He inclined his head in acknowledgement of the congratulations she gave him, though he did not strut or preen at such words. Words were useful to a point, but meant only as much as the mind behind it intended, and he wasn't seeing the sort of behavior that indicated she was used to flattering her way through life.
On this line of thought, her next words were intriguing. He arched a brow at her veiled baiting. He supposed it was warranted, since she did not know him. Any who did would know better than to suggest that he only honored warriors. His own mother was the High Priestess! He knew well that neither gender was superior, nor was any rank more or less important than another, excluding those of the very highest or very lowest. Even thralls must have a certain amount of consideration, though, and even the Warlord was subject to debasement if defeated in honorable conflict. None were exempt from either extreme.
"Should your path have been different, yes, perhaps." He regarded her seriously and thoughtfully a moment before continuing. "However, it has not. The pride has many, many reavers to fill the warbands, but few enough lawspeakers to hold the weight of the histories. Your path, as it has occurred, is a most honorable one, lady." This wasn't exactly the way he had imagined meeting his future mate. This was a most unromantic and rough topic for discussing, according to his cubhood fancies. Still, for a future partnership, this was not so bad a beginning. Mutual understanding was vital for a working relationship, and he had seen the stark lack of it in his parent's lives. He chose to do better.
So instead of moving on to talk of himself, he continued in the vein she had begun, figuring it a good lead-in for learning more of her. "What led you on this path, to choose the depths of history and old glory?" His smile indicated a gentle tease, that he knew very well that lawspeakers were as responsible for the present as for the past. Still, the bulk of their usefulness to the pride was their memory of events long past, that would hopefully help them avoid similar disasters, or make similar victories.
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 3:24 pm
She returned the smile, pleased by his response. This was no vain strutting cockerel then, he was as her mother had described. That was good, it would make a life with him bearable, perhaps even enjoyable. Yes, she could see herself with him, raising strong sons and daughters. But she wouldn't openly admit that just yet.
"My mother comes from the oldest blood our histories can trace," she told him with no hint of pride, "She believed me too far separated from it. As you may know, my father was a rogue, she does not speak of him. I decided at a young age that I must need to use my own strengths to prove to her that I am all that a viking-born lioness ought to be. It happened that my mind was a greater strength than my muscle, so here I found myself. I have a knack for names and conquests, for equal application of the law of the land no matter who comes to face it."
She found herself deep in thought for a moment, trying to piece together her most recent studies into the militaristic coups that had rocked the pride so long ago, before the proper challenges had been established. Brutal times, a male such as he would have been a great danger then, but things were more civilized now. In a way, at least.
"And you? You were raised with great expectations placed upon you I don't doubt?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 11:22 am
He listened attentively and patiently as she gave him a brief glimpse of her history, of her home-life as a cub. He wasn't especially pleased with the apparent dismissal of her rogue blood, but he knew many within the pride prized the old blood much higher than the new blood. He kept his opinions to himself, however, and nodded solemnly as she spoke of her excellent memory. A useful talent, that, though definitely better used in her duties than his.
He frowned faintly as she brought up the expectations placed upon him. His father was a delicate subject, and one he himself wasn't entirely comfortable with. He considered for a quiet moment how to address her question. It was only fair to allow some of his own difficulties, as she had. "I think perhaps those expectations a predominantly from many in the pride," he replied slowly, deep in thought. "I have put many on myself, though, as well." He met her eyes with a wry twist of his mouth. "My father though... I never can tell if he expects much of me, nor if I have satisfied or failed those expectations." It was a sad truth. Aesir was always busy with something else, someone else. He pushed, of course, but he pushed all his offspring, even his half-siblings. It was no secret that Aesir preferred his green daughter above all others, though. Hroarr would never admit to father or sister how he anguished for his father's praise, but neither would that longing ever displace his deep devotion to his father.
His expression turned pleasantly rueful though as he continued. "However, now that I am a captain, I have plenty of responsibilities that take my time and focus." He gave her an intent look, his eyes searching hers. "I want to be clear, though... I have no intention of challenging my father to lead the pride." If she was hoping for more status than he already claimed, this was the time to dispell them. "I am proud to be a captain, and will serve the pride faithfully as such, but no more." He hoped she understood, and hoped also, surprisingly, that she was content with that. The more they talked, the more he sought to make this match work. She was intelligent and quick, and would make a good wife. However, he would not stand for a wife who pressed him to overthrow his own father!
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