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 Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:12 pm
It was one of those rare days when snow packed the ground but the air had a damp, slightly springy feel to it. If you stepped outside for a short while it felt marvelously warm compared to the dreadful winter that had crossed the lands, but after being out and about your fingers turned raw. Oldcastle was a bustle of activity these days as people came in from across the lands. The Queen, they had said, was hosting a ball to honor the Chosen and their guardians, as well as those who still practiced hedgecraft. When he had heard the news, Thorne's mind turned to the young woman he had bumped into weeks ago in Palisade. Caroline, her name was, and in her company had been the most beautiful of deer. A guardian, no doubt. He hoped deep down that perhaps she had received an invite to this event, although if she would even remember him he did not know. She was nobility, after all! He was just some quiet woodsman.
Thorne trudged through town, boots barely holding along the slick roads. Children darted and slid and screeched in excitement between buildings, flinging snow at one another and stopping in awe to stare as strangers passed by. It was common for people to come and go through Oldcastle, usually someone pulled through the Wardwood for their choosing. The kids still found all of them fascinating.
"Mr. Thorne, Mr. Thorne!" A voice shrieked. He cringed, but turned to look down at the pair of children that had approached him. They knew him well enough from his trips into town, but rarely ventured close. He quirked a brow at them.
"What do you two want?" he grunted, putting up his front. He wasn't particularly fond of children (from a distance, maybe), and he also needed to get home before it grew dark to stoke the wood stove and tend to his father. To get pulled into their antics would mean he wouldn't make it back in time with all this snow on the roads. He had found medicine in his trip to Palisade that quelled the fever, but his father was still very weak.
"Did you go hunting today?" one squeaked out, staring at the bag slung over his shoulder. He shook his head.
"Just came in to trade today, picked up some vegetables for the root cellar. Tomorrow, if the weather holds." Their eyes went wide and as quickly as they had come, they scattered to go back to their games. Thorne heaved a sigh and started back through town, picking his way through the areas that were mostly cleared of snow. Strange times, indeed.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 1:08 pm
Caroline paused to lean up against the wall of a small building, breathlessly placing a hand against her bosom. She had arrived in Oldcastle that morning, per order of her father and the delightful invitation she had received a week ago, and had spent the last hour looking for someone in particular. While neither her parents nor her dreadful fiance had been able to attend that ball that evening, Caroline, with nothing better to do, was expected to, both to represent her family and because she was the only one with a guardian. Caroline had been reserved one of the nicer rooms at the inn designated for guests, as she wasn't important enough to be invited to stay at the castle, despite her upper standing in society. She was, after all, merely the daughter of gentry, and considered untitled nobility. Rooms in the castle were reserved for titled nobility of much higher standing.
Not that any of it bothered Caroline; she was merely concerned with finding that certain someone; a young man she had met a few weeks back in Palisade, who had been searching for a cure to his father's troubling illness. Elowen was her only companion on this trip, other than the maid who was waiting back in her room to dress her for the night's ball. Said deer stood silently beside her chosen, eyes surveying the area while Caroline attempted to catch her breath. She wasn't accustomed to rushing around town, but at least it was warm enough now that she didn't have to bundle under her heavy winter clothing, which only would have exhausted and slowed her further.
Suddenly, Elowen nudged Caroline and she glanced up in time to watch Thorne pass by on the other side of the street, his back to them. Eyes alight with new found resolve, Caroline thanked Elowen and grabbed at her skirts before hurrying across the street, calling out to Thorne. "Mr. Grey....Mr. Grey!"
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:03 pm
Had he been expecting a slightly familiar voice to call out to him again, he certainly wouldn't have whirled so fast to look. As Thorne turned quickly he lost his footing in the snow and slipped ungracefully onto his rear with a surprised grunt. He let out a low groan, eyes flickering upward and catching sight of the young woman that had called to him. Had he hit his head, too?
"Ahh, Miss Atwood!" he stammered, laughing nervously from the ground. Their second meeting, and he was still making himself look like a fool. "It's a bit chilly down here." He offered her a rare, genuine smile before trying to bring himself to his feet, slipping and nearly going back down again. He was fully capable of walking in snow, but the surprise (and delight) of seeing a familiar and friendly face had his senses reeling. Get it together, Thorne! After some more slipping and wobbling he finally stood straight on his feet, now towering over the young woman. Nervously he scratched the back of his head before adjusting the leathers that clung to him to smooth them back into place.
"You must have received an invitation to the ball, then?" he inquired, "Is everything well? It must not have been an easy journey with the way the weather has been as of late." Of course she had, why else would she be out this far? Always fidgety and with the awful questions. One of these days maybe he would sort out this whole 'conversation' thing.
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Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:26 pm
"Oh my!"
She hiked her skirts and walked briskly to his side, dropping her skirts once she stood over him to fidget nervously. Her hands fluttered, unsure of where to land or what to do in order to be most helpful. However, he seemed to manage on his own. Slipping and sliding on what remained of the ice and snow, he stood and dusted himself off, acting as if nothing awkward had just occurred. She responded accordingly, hesitantly lowering her hands to her sides and righting herself. Clearing her throat, she smiled softly.
"Indeed! I received the invitation last week. And..." She blushed, clasping her hands in front of her. "My fiance...he could not make it. I am allowed to bring a guest, and since I...assumed you did not receive an invitation...Well, I was...wondering if...you would like to attend with me. As my guest."
The two hardly knew one another, but she felt a connection; something she didn't share with her fiance, or any other male. Only with Elowen did she share a special bond. Regardless, she knew Thorne had a kind heart; he was sweet and genuine, someone she would love to spend the evening with and get to know better.
"It starts in a few hours. And do not worry if you have nothing appropriate to wear; the letter states that costumes are complimentary for those who can not afford one or do not have any available to them." She explained nervously, hoping he would not decline.
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Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 5:37 pm
Her offer certainly surprised him, although a fuzzy feeling he wasn't quite used to welled up in the pit of his chest. How kind of her to extend her guest invite to him. He had already made up his mind before he had fully thought out the idea. "O-of course! I would love to- I mean, it would be lovely." His brow furrowed in thought. "I'll just need to stop by the apothecary's shop to ask her to check on my father for the evening. She was kind enough to watch him when I traveled to Palisade, I am sure it will be no trouble for her."
Aah, costumes. Of course, it was a masquerade ball. Thorne had no real knowledge of such fancy parties aside from the stories of Palisade's grandeur. Although normally he would avoid such spectacles, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Caroline was a different breed of upper-class, kind rather than pushing herself forward and using her position to force others into place. If the silent deer at her side was any indication, she was a good person at heart.
"If we have an hour or so, I should go find something fitting to wear," he added, threading his fingers through his hair haphazardly, "As well as clean myself up tad. There's a tailor just up the street, I could meet you at the castle when you are ready?" He could feel his knees quake in the slightest and chastised himself. Hold it together! The night had not even begun.
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Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 2:59 pm
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Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:05 pm
Thorne fidgeted as he approached the castle, adjusting the suit that clung to his body. In the last few hours he had arranged for the apothecary to watch over his father for the evening, a huge weight lifted off his chest as she had readily accepted. The tailor had been his next stop, and after some fussing back and forth with the man he had found something that fit him well and was party-appropriate. The suit was black with silver trim, sleek and unlike anything the hunter had ever worn (or thought about wearing) in his lifetime. Most comfortable to him were the shoes; knee-high of fine black leather, and tooled down the sides in an elegant swirling pattern. Although he doubted he would be attending such an event any time in the future, he could say that perhaps the boots would find their way home with him.
He had gone back and forth on whether to shave, finally forgoing the action and leaving the bit of this morning's stubble on his face. His hair had been smoothed and brushed, the longer strands tied at the nape of his neck with a thin ribbon. From behind his mask, gilded in silver swirls, his eyes began to seek out Caroline as he got to the courtyard. He inhaled slowly, spying the mass of guardians milling about with their chosen, everyone in attendance dressed to the nines and clearly enjoying themselves. His stomach filled with butterflies as he scanned the throng of people, seeking out the familiar deer. Finally he caught sight of Elowen and her chosen, breath catching in his chest. She was stunning! If he had been nervous talking to her the first time they had met, he was a wreck now.
"I hope I'm not late," he said as he approached her, "It seems as if most of the guests are here already. You ahh... you look lovely, if I may." His face flushed, and Thorne was suddenly glad for the mask. "Have I missed anything?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:00 pm
Eyes searching elsewhere, Caroline had not noticed Thorne's approach until he spoke. She jumped slightly, the sudden sound of his voice startling and exciting her. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she placed a gloved hand against it, as it to calm her nerves, as she turned to face him. She had always thought him handsome, but the natural ruggedness to him and the stunning suit he had adorned complimented one another breathlessly. Suddenly, he corset felt far too tight, and she inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly as she willed herself calmer.
She smiled, her eyes alight behind her mask. "Thank you." She blushed, curtsying briefly and fluidly. Such a movement would have been difficult, given the weight of the dress, if she hadn't had years of practice. "You look...marvelous." She laughed nervously, though spoke truthfully. "The tailor did a wonderful job on your outfit." At his last question, she shook her head subtly. "The Queen's arrival, but she has yet to speak. You can see her now - there, with her guardian." Lifting a hand daintily, she motioned toward the raised dais, on the other side of the courtyard, where the Queen sat silently among her guards and courtiers. Her dark guardian was as equally still and silent; eerie, almost.
In the background, couples swirled across the dance floor, the orchestra striking up a lively tune. A mysteries man, who had entered the courtyard alongside the Queen, abandoned his post to walk among the crowd. Guests pulled away from their dances to address the man, and for a moment, Caroline watched. Rumors had been running rampant, concerning the man. From what she had gathered, his name was Llyr, and he was said to be a spirit. Fascinating...but judging by the swarm of guests crowding him, she opted to remain away, at least for the time being. Perhaps Thorne knew more about it.
She turned to Thorne, and smiled. "Shall we dance?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:29 pm
Thorne's gaze followed Caroline's gesture, eyes setting on the Queen and her entourage. The dark stag in particular caught his attention, but he allowed his attention to wander from the dais down to the trees that seemed to have magically borne fruit from barren branches. Pears, grapes, cherries... he made a silent note in his head to avoid consuming any of that (weird spirit-fruits were not on his list of acceptable foods, as it were). Besides, there was plenty of other food and drink going around that suited him just fine.
Her question caught him off guard. "D-dance?" he stammered, turning his full attention back to her, "I'm not very good, are you sure you want to endure that?" He laughed, a nervous tinge to it. His one experience in ball-appropriate dancing had been years ago, when he was a skinny teenager of all legs and arms. Needless to say, he had been pretty terrible at it. He certainly didn't want to disappoint, however, and sit himself on the sidelines all evening! His eyes darted to the other pairs dancing around the floor, watching their movements carefully. How hard could it actually be...?
"You'll have to lead until I figure it out," he laughed, threading his fingers through the loose bits of hair too short to be tied from his face, "You certainly know much more than I." The hunter felt butterflies well in the pit of his chest. Not only could he look like a fool in front of the young woman, but also in front of the rest of the party's attendees. He merely hoped they had already started drinking a bit too much to notice.
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Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:56 pm
Caroline giggled softly, delicately placing her hand over her lips as she did so. She didn't expect he knew how to dance, but it didn't matter to her. It was a ball after all; they couldn't be seen standing against the wall all night! "Perhaps you will surprise yourself." After all, he was a hunter and a tracker; surely he had know his body well enough to move quietly. He couldn't be a complete klutz.
While the couple spoke, the courtyard blossomed. Slowly, and subtly, small flowers bloomed on the trees, and fairy wrens chirped, hoping from branch to branch. A sweet fragrance enveloped the courtyard, the scents making Caroline dizzy and giddy. The courtyard was alive with ethereal color, and even above, radiant splashes of color spilled across the sky. Pinks, blues, purples, and greens...Nothing about their surroundings were dull, and Caroline felt as if they had been transported to a different place entirely; how could they still be dancing upon the crumbling ruins of the old Palace?
As the petals fell, exotic fruits took their place. The dancing had ceased for a time being as the guests paused to admire their new surroundings, and hesitantly, some even came forward to taste the fruit, finding confidence and assurance in the wrens. When no one fell dead, more stepped forward, and although Thorned remained rooted, Caroline felt compelled to take a bite. Elowen was uneasy, nudging Caroline, but the woman ignored her guardian's warning and reached up to pluck a single cherry.
Removing the stem, she popped it into her mouth, and bit into the flesh of the fruit. The cherry popped with a burst of flavor and Caroline giggled as she swallowed. Her cheeks flushed, and she felt warm, tingly. Giddy, she turned back to Thorne, and took his hand, leading him out onto the dance floor to join the others who had returned to swirling about. "Yes, lets." She laughed, her left hand in his right as she faced him. She place his left hand on her waist, and rested her right hand on his left shoulder. As the next chord was struck, she side stepped, and led them out into the middle of the floor.
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Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 2:22 pm
Thorne shared Elowen's sentiment on the fruit, but seeing as the other party-goers had not dropped to the floor yet, held his tongue. After all, if something were to happen he and the deer were here to help. He couldn't imagine the Queen allowing strange magic to harm the guests she had spent so much effort contacting to bring here.
Caroline's hand brought him back to the present, and he allowed her to lead him to the floor with little protest. He hesitated briefly, but settled into the proper form, a focused expression crossing his eyes. A smile cracked at the corner of his mouth. After a few well-hidden, clumsy steps he managed to figure out the basic movements, muscles relaxing and a light sigh of relief escaping his lungs.
"I never asked earlier how you had managed to escape Palisade on your own," he inquired after a minute or two, "When we last met your family was still skeptical of your being chosen, were they not?" He nearly missed a step, but caught himself and gently tightened his hand to secure his position.
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Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:03 pm
Caroline tipped her head back, head light, to gaze up at Thorne. Her body took over the steps of the dance naturally, but she was slower than she might have been, her movements not as graceful. Her mouth felt dry, and her gaze wandered longingly back to the hanging fruit. Around them, the world spun, a blur of spinning bodies and flying grapes. The laughter in the courtyard was too loud, the music haunting. But Thorne was warm and real in her arms, and, as if afraid she might slip away, her grip tightened.
"I did not need to escape...my parents arranged a carriage for me travel." She smiled, though it was more a grimace. Off to the side, Elowen watched from where the couple left her, her eyes trained on Caroline. She peered past the other bodies present as if they weren't there, her expression somber. She was uneasy, frustrated that Caroline had eaten the forbidden fruit, and worried for her chosen. Something in the air...didn't feel right. "My father...despite what you might think of him...he has always supported my being chosen. He allowed Elowen's presence. He is a believer in the Old Ways, you see."
She cleared her throat, and shook her head, closing her eyes for a moment. She laughed shortly. "But my mother...she has been less than pleased. It is not proper, she says. It could make me...less desirable. For who would wish to marry the slave of a beast!" Her voice raised at the last part of explanation, and she shook her head again. "Such is her opinion. I am not a slave, and Elowen is no beast. But you know that, of course."
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Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:03 pm
Something nagged in the back of Thorne's head, but he pushed it out forcefully. His focus was on Caroline rather than the eerie change of how things were going in the background. Whenever he thought too hard on it, his head began to pound... and besides, except for the unsettled feeling that was trying to take hold nothing had threatened him (or Caroline, more importantly). He relaxed the best he could, sensing her tightening grip and allowing her close.
He listened as she spoke, expression guarded save for his eyes... which betrayed his every feeling, of course. How unfortunate of her mother to think that way! Thorne couldn't see how someone wouldn't find that desirable; to be chosen by the guardians of old was a great honor. Perhaps to someone a little less rooted in daily happenings outside city walls they would not see the blessing... but he knew better.
"If your mother thinks of Elowen as a beast, perhaps she should accompany me on a hunt," he laughed softly, expression softening. "Your guardian is anything but! And you, of course, are no slave." He leaned forward enough to catch her gaze as he spoke, his eyes showing that he indeed meant what he had said. Thorne was no liar, as it were, and he enjoyed Caroline's company too much to be anything but truthful to the young woman.
"I often wonder how they choose their partner," he mused quietly, "It seems as if they pick the most unlikely of people. Elowen compliments you quite well, I would say." The hunter offered her a genuine smile. Strange things may be going on around them, but so long as nothing threatened them... it was all right.
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Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:16 pm
A dull sense of menace lingered in the air. Colors were too bright, laughter delirious, and shapes contorted. The sense was subtle, and while it should have been alarming, Caroline couldn't wrap her mind around it enough to bother fearing it. Things might have seemed a little strange, but there was no sense of immediate danger or threat. No one was bothering them for now, and so she was content to remain as she was, dancing to the new manic tempo in Thorne's arms. His warmth and his gaze were normal, and for now, that was enough. For once, it was nice to simply relax, to go unnamed and unnoticed by all but him.
Caroline flushed, his words bringing her previous statements to full realization. Perhaps the mask and the fruit had made her bold. "Ah...I apologize. I...should not have said that about my mother. She means...well." Caroline pursed her lips, as thought it had been difficult to speak the word. She was embarrassed; how unladylike of her! He must have thought her horribly improper...But then she had to remind herself that he was accustomed to a different sort of woman. What he expected of her and what her kind expected were a world of difference. Her brow furrowed, the skin between her eyebrows pinching delicately together, nose wrinkling gently. Her gaze drifted away, and she lapsed into thought.
Until he spoke again, commenting on a far safer topic. Safer now, anyway, that guardians and their chosen were becoming more acceptable. She mirrored his smile, their gaze meeting. It was pleasant, to be able to lock eyes without immediately glancing away, as they used to. How long ago that seemed. "It is a curious thing. I recall the day...I was fifteen, and lounging in the library with a book. It was so sudden, I can not recall the exact time it occurred...But I was filled with a sort of...longing. An ache I could not ignore. I dropped my book, and without question, left the house. On horseback, I traveled to the Wardwood...I could not stop, did not even think to." The day was still fresh in her mind. What she wore, what she felt. "It was an incredible thing." She breathed, her gaze dreamy. She then smiled, laughing softly. "I worried my parents to death. I told no one I had left; nothing else is a concern in that moment."
She glanced over at Elowen, her smile loving. "She is perfect for me...My perfect friend. She can not speak, and yet, I always know what she is thinking. We are connected, in a way only a chosen and their guardian could ever fathom." She glanced back to Thorne. "I hope you might experience it some day."
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Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:40 pm
"All parents mean well for their children," Thorne commented slowly, his own brow creasing as he spoke, "To express that what you want is in their interest would be... like you or I trying to explain to someone what you felt about them." Once the words were out of his mouth he seized a bit, realizing how dangerously close to uncharted (and rather delicate) territory he was treading. Thankfully there was a short pause in the music before a new tune began, giving him a moment to backtrack.
Her astounding recount of the day of her choosing made Thorne's chest ache for something he couldn't quite fathom. Incredible, to have a companion that would never leave your side. His eyes flickered to Elowen briefly, her concerned features easy to pick out even from where they were on the floor... but his attention quickly turned back to Caroline.
"Me, chosen?" he smiled at the thought, "I can't deny that it would be quite the experience, although I wonder if the Wardwood would be kind enough to grant me a guardian after all the poking around I've done." He laughed quietly, jokingly. "I would certainly enjoy the company. It gets... quiet on the hunt, and it's quiet at home as well." His mouth suddenly curled into a soft frown, having struck a sore spot without even trying. He quickly twisted the subject away again; no point in bringing more of a cloud over the evening, after all.
"Now, the last time I took off without saying anything, I tried to join the circus, of all things." he offered her a grin, eyes glinting amusement behind his mask. "Can you even imagine that?"
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