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 Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:11 am
Thorne,
I hope this letter finds you and Valerian well. I can not stress enough how glad I
am to see the solstice pass quietly, void of fae and wolves. Is it to much to hope
that Gwyn has succumbed to his injuries, and we are rid of him for good?
We can discuss that later, if you wish; that was not the purpose of this letter.
My parents will be going out of town this coming weekend, and I had hoped, since
we have not seen one another since Samhain, that you might travel to the estate.
We have a pond on the property, frozen over by the winter cold, and I thought
perhaps we might go ice skating?
Caroline
Sitting at her window, staring out at the front of the property, Caroline recalled her last letter to Thorne. It had been brief, her pen looping quickly across the parchment, as she had hoped to get it to the post that day so that it might reach Thorne in time. Her parents had departed earlier that morning, and after a rushed farewell, Caroline had fled to her room with Elowen on her heels, to park herself where she still sat, waiting to see Thorne and Valerian in the distance. She worried they might not show, or that they might encounter a problem on the road, but tried not to dwell, instead focusing on his smile, and his warmth. She smiled herself at the thought, fingers clutching her ice skates. Elowen, knowing her chosen likely wouldn't be moving until Thorne arrived, had taken to napping, curled on the floor beside Caroline's feet.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 9:48 pm
It had taken a little coaxing to get Valerian out of the cabin that morning, but despite the usual winter chill the weather actually turned out quite well. The sky had stayed clear and blue on their trek up from Oldcastle... although Thorne guessed his good spirits were making it seem even more lovely than usual. He and his guardian had gotten an early start, and before he had really noticed the miles tick by they had come across snow-covered Palisade. Valerian carried Thorne's pack across his shoulders, his crossbow slung on one side and a pair of ice skates on the other. He'd had to sharpen the blades, but they were back to where they needed to be. It'd been years since he'd actually skated and most of the night before he'd spent worrying over making an absolute fool of himself.
Not that that was anything out of the usual when he spent time with Caroline, at least.
He had that nagging memory of the last time he had come up this way in the back of his mind. Not something he necessarily wanted to relive, being shot and all. Caroline's letter seemed to suggest that this time around there would not be any interruptions, however, and it had been ages since he'd last seen her. A couple months of careful attention and his shoulder had healed and strengthened with none of the soreness from before. Valerian had sensed his brightened mood that morning and had spent the majority of the trip shooting him knowing glances. The deer had clearly missed them too.
Thorne's first trip to Palisade had been when the city was covered with slick ice and slush, and it wasn't so different now. The roads were actually clear this time around, but the weather this winter had not been as harsh so far. Small miracles, perhaps. Going by vague memory he took a couple turns before finding himself on the path leading to the Atwood estate. That familiar giddy-nervous feeling settled in the pit of his chest and Valerian let out an amused sound when he felt it too.L ii a t h holy poop am I rusty haha, here is the most belated of belated tags 8 )
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Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:09 pm
Capricorn Sunchai Homygawd figured out copy paste on my phone haha Sorry this took forever!
Without her permission, Caroline had slipped into a light doze during her wait. In her excitement, she hadn't slept well the night prior, and while she'd been able to ignore the creeping fatigue during the mornings activities, it took hold of her now during an idle moment. Thankfully, perhaps noticing her chosen's state and knowing she would hate to miss Thorne's arrival, Elowen had taken up watch, her steady gaze fixated on the gate below. When two familiar figures materialized, the guardian was quick and ready to nudge the human girls face, willing her to a conscious state.
"Hmm?" Caroline stirred and blinked into focus, clearly momentarily confused as to why she was fully dressed and slumped beside her window. As the realization hit her, she sat up abruptly, turning to press her nose against the glass. Her eyes lit up the second she spotted Thorne and Val strolling up the path, and quick as a rabbit, she was out of her bedroom and scurrying downstairs.
All pretenses of composure were abandoned as she threw the front doors open wide, nearly tripping over the threshold in her haste. But of course, as soon as she was a stone's skip away from her hunter, her nerves set in and she slowed to a more respectable pace, her cheeks bright with color.
"You are here." She smiled. Why was she always so breathless around him? "I had almost begun to worry.
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Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 6:23 pm
There had been a brief moment where he'd worried that she wouldn't catch him coming up, but the door flung wide without warning, Caroline in the frame with Elowen lurking just behind her. An attempt was made to tone down the wide grin that spread over his features... although he failed pretty miserably on that front. It had only been a couple months since Samhain, but it felt far too long.
"You call, I come running." He laughed, fingers threading through the bits of hair that didn't fit into his short ponytail and pushing them out of his face. The words felt far too forward now that they were actually out of his mouth, and he hoped whatever color came to his cheeks was masked by the sting of cold winter air.
"At least I haven't made a habit of slipping and falling in the snow whenever I run into you," he added, grin softening into something slightly lopsided, "That's something I can maybe live without." Valerian snorted, amused, bumping into his chosen as if to provoke him into reenacting the blunder anyway.
He craned his head back, staring up at the bright blue of the sky. It really was a perfect day. Thorne drew his eyes back downward, taking a few measured steps towards Caroline. "How have you been?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 2:31 pm
Capricorn Sunchai Finally paused the obsession long enough to write xD Need to get my s**t together...
The words weren't unwelcome, but they brought color to her cheeks nonetheless. She smiled shyly, knowing he didn't mean for his promise to sound so forward, but she couldn't help the warm hope that blossomed around her heart. The thought of Thorne running to her side, for her...She ducked her head, clearing her throat softly. Behind her, Elowen subtly rolled her eyes. When would the girl learn?
She lifted her gaze to watch the movement of his hand, following its course through his dark locks. She didn't mean to stare...And thankfully, his next words roused her from her thoughts. She paused a moment, blinking with confusion as she searched her memories for the link that would connect the joke. It was a brief moment, and then she was giggling, eyes lighting with remembrance. Their second meeting, in Old Castle, when she had approached him about the ball. He'd turned too quickly and slipped in the ice, making for a flustered impression.
She nodded, still laughing lightly. "For the better, I presume. My, has it truly been over a year?" That night had been more akin to a dream than reality...a wonderful dream turned nightmarish. A night she could never forget. She couldn't say it was one she wished to forget, given the magic of the earlier evening, but she had never viewed the darkness the same since.
"I have been well though." She admitted with a soft smile. It was true, even given her impending marriage and her stricter curfew. There had been recent talk of the wedding happening sooner rather than later, which did weigh heavy on her heart, but that wasn't a topic she wished to dwell on with Thorne. Their time together was special, and she meant to see them through smoothly and happily. She held her skates up a little higher, her tone teasing. "I have been itching to get on the ice, and show you a lesson or two!" He might have his talent with rocks, but she could perform a mean pirouette on the ice.
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:41 pm
"Nearly." Thorne's grin softened subtly, although the smile was still evident in his eyes. A lot had transpired in the time since then, but he definitely couldn't say that he regretted any of it. Certainly not his choosing, and certainly not stumbling into her before the Masquerade.
"Is that so?" He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, "I don't think I've been on the ice since I was very small. I'll be amazed if I can even stay on my feet. Maybe Val can just drag me around." Valerian snorted, bumping against his shoulder. He would do no such thing, especially at the expense of Thorne making a fool out of himself in front of Caroline.
It was nice to be in her company again, and easy to fall into the comfortable (if not unusual) friendship they had cultivated. Perhaps this visit to the estate he could avoid being shot at and enjoy the scenery instead. He suspected that both Caroline's fiance and her parents were well out of town, however... and that thought bright him some relief.
"Shall we head into the Atwood wilderness?" he asked, gesturing out to the treeline where he assumed their pond must be with another hint of a smile on his face, "I feel the tables have turned this time around."
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 12:42 pm
Capricorn Sunchai Jkjnefe owning your own b/c is stupid busy. I have a new found respect xD
"I certainly hope so." She smiled herself, turning to lead him toward the pond. She traveled in silence, just a couple of steps ahead of him, with Elowen right at her side. The guardian scowled and picked her legs up high with each step, not exactly favoring the cold, wet ground. But she wouldn't complain; she was devoted to Caroline, and if the girl wanted to slid around on some ice, then her guardian would stand by willingly, albeit stonily.
Given the size of the estate, it was a bit of trek to the edge of the forest, though not one either of them should have been unaccustomed to. Caroline, because she had lived on these grounds her entire life, and Thorne because, well, he traveled long distances for a living. Or so Caroline assumed, given her outing to his house that one time. She reminisced on that outing as they walked in their comfortable silence, remembering his pond and their time there. She would love to visit again in the summer, with the weather warmer. Maybe she would ask about it later.
It was only a short trek into the forest to reach the clearing with the pond. It was beautiful any time of year, but she always liked the look of it best in the winter. Pristine snow piled along the bank, the ice slick and clear, sparkling in the low sunlight that managed to stream in through the trees. Beaming, she approached the edge and knelt to remove her boots and slip her skates on, carefully perching on one foot to avoid soaking her stockings. Once her skates were laced on securely, she stepped carefully onto the ice, allowing a moment to find her balance. Once she was sure she wouldn't topple over and had indeed retained some skill during the year lull, she slid forward and twirled around to face Thorne, smiling teasingly. "Well come on then!"
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 9:17 pm
It was refreshing to take his time enjoying the scenery as they walked; during the fox hunt the fall foliage had been lovely, but Thorne had hardly had a good chance to look with everything that had happened. The woods here had a different feel than the ones he frequented in Oldcastle. They felt younger, almost, and far more open. Often enough even the familiar depths of the Wardwood could feel stifling with old growth and heavy foliage, but he felt none of that here. He silently wondered what it might be like to hunt in terrain like this.
Valerian seemed far less bothered by the snow coating the ground than Elowen did, letting out a bleat of excitement as he bounced around them. He reached the clearing ahead of Thorne, taking his time to snoop around the edge of the pond with careful interest. When he seemed to have found a good spot the deer tugged on the strap holding the rest of the hunter's belongings, dropping them into a relatively clear patch of ground so he could peruse the area a bit better.
Caroline's teasing brought him back down to earth and only sent a warm flush creeping over Thorne's cheeks; after a moment of fumbling with his boots in an attempt to stay mostly dry he was able to slide into his own skates and lace them up snugly. He wobbled with his first step onto the ice, his movements careful and tentative until he could sort his balance out.
"See, I have it," he retorted, smiling back at her, "Although I'm not sure how long I'll be on my feet." Thorne knew he wasn't as agile on the ice as Caroline, but perhaps if he were lucky enough he could at least manage to not fall on his a** for once.
L ii a t h no I totally didn't forget it was my turn to reply on this what are u talkin about xDD
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Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 5:11 pm
While Valerian chose to snoop, Elowen took up post beside the pond. She paced for a dry spot to lie, but eventually gave up on the hope and stood watch. Caroline smiled patiently from the ice, watching as Thorne fumbled to lace his skates and gather his balance on the slick surface of the frozen pond. She laughed softly at his boast of success, and then even more so at his lack of confidence. She skated closer and then turned a circle around him, glad for once that she could prove some talent. But with his hunter’s grace, she harbored no doubts that he would soon match her skill, if not surpass it. She might have been able to wobble in heels, but he was far more surefooted than any other she had ever known - not counting their habit of tripping over one another.
”You will be a professional within the hour. I had best show off before then!” It was so easy to smile with Thorne, especially the more their friendship grew. Turning gracefully, she skated for the far side of the pond, and then circled the perimeter, confident enough to momentarily close her eyes and relish in the feel of the winter air. It whisked through her hair, her curls billowing like a curtain trailing her flushed face. Her cheeks were red with cold, but when she opened her eyes, the shone a brilliant blue against the icy backdrop.
”I should have traveled to Oldcastle today.” She said suddenly, her tone thoughtful. She skated closer to Thorne, merely an arms length away, so she wouldn’t need to raise her voice. ”Your pond is sure to be nicer, though I would love to see it in summer as well.” Truthfully, she’d love to see it everyday, but that was far too embarrassing to admit out loud. From the banks, Elowen shot her a smug look, indicating she knew exactly where the girls thoughts were.
Blushing at Elowen’s accusation, Caroline turned her face away, suddenly feeling self conscious. She moved to skate a little further away from the obvious object of her affections, but in her haste, missed a crack in the ice. The tip of her right skate caught the jagged edge, and she was flung forward, her breath catching in her throat. To catch her fall, he threw her arms out, prepared for the rough impact of packed ice, but instead found herself tumbling into Thorne.
ooc OH GOD I had to read some old rps between them to recall where we were, and MY HEART. So of course, I couldn’t resist the collision. I’m so glad Wardwood is coming back emotion_bigheart (And I swear a reply will not take this long again!)
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Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:21 pm
Thorne had serious doubts that he would be half as adept as her in only an hour, but her confidence in his abilities- or lack thereof- brought a lopsided smile to his face regardless. He certainly would try for her, at least. After a few more wobbly movements he finally settled into an easy rhythm. There would be no fancy tricks from him for now unless he wanted to go straight down onto the ice.
At the edge of the pond, Valerian let out a low, amused snort before busying himself in search of whatever semi-edible things might have been lurking just below the surface of the snow.
"It takes longer to freeze," he said thoughtfully, "Although by mid-winter it is safe to walk straight across. I like to use it as a shortcut occasionally." Thorne nearly fidgeted with the desire to shift closer to her, barely managing to wrestle the thought back where it belonged; their dance had been ages ago and among the crowd of the masquerade it had at least been passable as appropriate. Whether he'd like to admit it or not it was something he'd have to enjoy only as a fond memory.
Thorne had been about to continue speaking when Caroline's sudden movement caught him off guard; the momentum of her weight upset his balance before he could react. One arm went to steady her on instinct and the other only somewhat caught his fall as he went down hard on the ice, knocking the wind right from his lungs in the process. Her added weight in his lap as she tumbled down after him drew a low grunt of surprise.
He was winded from the fall but quickly released the arm that had curled around her, flush creeping up his cheeks at their predicament. Thorne made no move to get up, frozen in uncertainty and not sure if he could actually muster the grace to stand from directly on the sheer surface of the lake. She'd have to untangle herself first before he could even attempt to stand.
"Are you alright?"
L ii a t h aaaaa I love these dumb idiots constantly tripping over each other HAHahahkdjsfg
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 9:22 pm
Had either of them been better capable of balance on the ice, the incident might have resulted in a simple nudge or brush. As it were, they proved hopeless, tumbling and tangling and sliding until Thorne was sprawled beneath her, as she had landed right on him, his arm curled around her waist in an attempt to spare her the fall. But their state of landing didn't register right away - she'd been far more preoccupied with bracing herself against impact. She closed her eyes the moment she began to fall, awaiting the frozen ground, but instead was perplexed by the soft warmth she connected with instead. The surface grunted beneath her, and she froze, realizing the predicament before she could open her eyes to confirm. Was she...? Oh no.
Hesitantly, her eyes fluttered open, and her blues locked with Thorne's greys. They were inches apart, her hand braced against his chest, her dress tangled around her legs. "Oh..." She uttered breathlessly, lost in the foreign sensation of a body so male pressed against her own. They had been close before - when they danced at the Queen's ball - but this was entirely different.
"Oh! She realized with a start that was still atop him, and to boot, she was staring. Thorne very well couldn't move with her in his lap, and was being rude by just...sitting there. Flushing with embarrassment, she scrambled up, losing her footing a few times, but managing this time to remain upright. "Ohh, oh, I am so sorry!" Please let the ice open now and pull her under; she would have preferred an icy grave to this anytime! She hid her face behind splayed fingers, her face a brighter red than she imagined it had ever been before. "That was so incredibly rude, I should have stood sooner! You were just so...so..." The color spread to engulf her neck, and her skin was on fire. Had she seriously nearly admitted that she enjoyed his closeness? Please Spirits...strike me down! She could only stare, wide eyed, her tongue frozen in her mouth.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 7:52 pm
There was nothing for him to do but wait; Thorne's breath caught in his chest and for a moment he was nearly certain that his heart had stopped beating. Her hand against his chest was the only thing truly grounding him, and he actually needed to curl his fingers against the ice to stop himself from reaching for it.
"I-" He let out a soft, nervous laugh, immediately reaching to rub the back of his neck instead. It wasn't appropriate... but despite the bruise he would probably be sporting on his tailbone he hadn't minded in the least. Caroline's weight had been solid and real in his lap and as she scrambled back to her own two feet he found he sorely missed her warmth.
"It's alright," he managed to get out, allowing her to steady herself completely before he even attempted to stand. Thorne took a shaky breath and carefully pulled himself back onto his feet, holding his balance through some miracle or other. He caught her eye, noting the fierce flush spread over her face. Was there more to this than he thought? No... there couldn't possibly be, not with the unfortunate distance between them. Despite whatever feelings he had been denying for months there was no way he wasn't reading into this too much.
"Caroline," he tried again, "Please. I think the both of us are just a little too clumsy for our own good."
Despite his words he could definitely feel the heat that crept over his cheeks and desperately hoped the sting of the cold would mask the worst of it. Thorne hesitated briefly before he reached a gloved hand for hers, giving it a gentle squeeze of reassurance and offering a soft, lopsided smile. Even now some of their differences were painfully clear; what was nothing more than an accident to him was far more of an offense in her eyes.
"Are you alright, though?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 12:25 pm
His words provided little comfort, and it wasn’t until he reached for her hand that she began to calm. She hoped he truly meant what he said. It wasn’t that she thought he would ever lie to her, but she didn’t doubt he might stretch the truth to ensure her happiness. He was too kind like that; inconveniencing himself for her. Even now, though she had knocked him down and surely inflicted more damage than he was letting on, he insisted on making sure that she was fine. So she nodded quickly, keeping a hold on his hand. ”Y-Yes. You, um...provided a safe landing.” Her laugh was a breathy, nervous lilt.
”I suppose that is our characteristic. I cannot recall a meeting where we have not collided...Even our first day, I walked straight into you.” Her laugh was more genuine this time, more at ease, as she thought back on the memory. It had been an icy winter day in Palisade, and she’d been so distracted by her thoughts that she had bumped into his back. It was not a moment she regretted.
His tone hinted at something, and her mind flooded with things she wanted to say. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, debating internally. Finally, she decided to spill it. ”I just want you to know...I do not panic at every accident because it bothers me...I just…” I just know I will only ever be a friend to you, and surely you do not appreciate the intimacy of our collisions… ”I would just hate to ever make you uncomfortable.” I know you have a Palisade woman you mean to woo, and I would never hope to complicate that for you. ”You are my dearest friend, and...I shudder to think of a life without you.”] And when you are gone and happily married to another, my heart will shatter. There was no denying it anymore. Despite the thoughts that accompanied her words, she said all she dared to. It would suffice, she supposed, so she punctuated it with a smile and a warm squeeze of his hand.
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2016 10:01 pm
"I truly wonder what my life would be had you not bumped into me," he said, chuckling softly. When Caroline didn't release his hand it settled his nerves some, and he absently ran his thumb over the back of her hand as she spoke. He stilled the motion as he realized he was doing it, hoping his face did not betray the slip the way he felt it had.
His mouth formed a silent 'o' as she spoke, and if he hadn't been convinced he was clearly just dreaming Thorne probably would have had a more composed reaction. Certainly he had considered her a friend for quite some time- although he never had been certain of her stance- and to hear her say it so plainly left his heart in his throat. Of course he could never truly tell her the depth of his own feelings, not when she had been promised to another and so much already stretched between them... but he valued her company far too much to let that ruin their friendship.
"I-" He nearly stuttered before he could continue, his eyes dipping down to the ice below them before he could bring himself to meet her gaze. "I cannot think of a time where you have made me uncomfortable, Caroline. Surely you have noticed by now I do not keep much company, as many tend to rub me the wrong way... often at no fault of their own." Thorne offered a careful smile, returning the gentle squeeze of her hand.
"But I must say you hold a very special place in my heart and I am glad to call you my friend."
Off the edge of the lake Valerian lifted his head, ears pricked forward in interest. The deer looked smug, as if waiting for the hunter to say something he dared not voice aloud.
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