forum A Thing You Won't Remember

Started September 18, 2022 by @ElderGod-yellowqueen

tune

"Don't get caught."
He knew it was a bit harsh, but if she got caught, he'd be dead, one way or another.
He sat up as Ruir took the lead. "I don't know how my father is going to react, exactly, so… when we get there, Lear will show you my quarters, where you can stay till we get your lands and title figured out. I'll meet with my father and come back to you after. From there, my schedule is kinda rigid when he's around. I'm working on slowly loosening it, but… well, in his mind, I'm a kid still."

"I won't. I'll be careful." Elitita only hoped she wouldn't be eating those words later.
She had no intention of revealing her trueself to anyone else. She would have to work on keeping her mouth shut but she could be careful. She knew how to appease and keep from angring others.
"Are you going to send me away when you sort out my land?" She understood it would be the safer option but she didn't want to leave him. She didn't want him to bear the brunt of his father. She wanted to be there to support him. She couldn't do that if she was sent away.

"It'll take a couple days to get the land figured out, and then I'll just have to escort you out there. So yes and no." Romulus was going to stick with her if he could, but… their undefined relationship had some interesting boundaries and he wasn't sure what they were.
"You'll need to spend some time out there on your own, but once you've got it running like you want, assuming you can find a decent steward, you can return to court, if you like." He wasn't sure what she'd want to do, but the question had sounded like she wanted to be around.

Elitita nodded her head in acknowledgement but said nothing more. She didn't want to be forgotten. She didn't want him to shove her on some land with a random title and name and forget completely about her. She had to believe she was worth more than that. She was, wasn't she?
She was only just previously a whore, someone who wasn't worth anything. She swallowed loudly and looked down for a moment before pushing these thoughts out of her head. She didn't need to ve thinking such things, at least not in public.

Ruir dropped back behind Tabor, and Romulus immediately leaned down and kissed her neck.
"I'm not trying to get rid of you." He wasn't sure what the look on her face was, but he suspected something like that.
"I wanted you in my network before, and I want you there now. I just know to be careful about you, that's all. My offer to you hasn't changed, Elitia."

Elitia looked back at him as they suddenly dropped back. Her expression moved from concern to affection. Her eyes closed for a moment at the kiss, enjoying it.
"I accept your offer. It's just…nerve wracking to be going back to the palace." She was nervous how many buried memories it was going to bring up. She had buried all memories of her past, especially that one. She wasn't sure what it was going to bring up. She buried those memories for a reason, she didn't want to remember them.

Romulus nodded slowly. "And I appreciate your acceptance. I also can assure you I understand your trepidation." He squeezed her a little tighter against him, ignoring that it hurt, just wanting to comfort her.

They rode on for several hours. Eventually, what had been a distant dot on the horizon became a city, the crown jewel of which was the Palace. It was within sight, less than an hour out.
Riding from just after dawn till about just past noon could be an exhausting task, and Romulus did his best to make sure Elitia was comfortable and supported the whole time. He made sure she could lean back into him, made sure she was settled stable in the saddle at all times, kept his grip whenever Ruir would make a flying leap across a ravine or chasm, and generally kept her from sliding off the Wulf's back.

(Sorry it took me so long today. family stuff, will reply as much as i can)

Elitia didn't realize how much seeing the palace would hit her. She hadn't seen it in twelve years. The last time she was there her family got brutally murdered. Her chest tightened at the tight of it and tears started ti well in her eyes. "Stop. Stop!"
She couldn't breathe. She needed to get down. She was swinging her legs over and jumping off before they had even come to a complete stop. With a hand at her chest, she walked away from Ruir, trying to take deep breaths. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself, but all she could see was her home in flames.
Opening her eyes, the palace was very much whole and not in flames.

Ruir pulled up, sliding to an abrupt stop at the sound of her frantic cry. Romulus let go quickly, and slid down after her. He stayed back, not wanting to crowd her, despite his every instinct saying to go comfort her.
He's wondered if and when this would happen. He was hoping not, but here they were.

Lear was ahead and circled back, Tabor pawing the ground and throwing sparks. "Romulus, we can't take her through the front gate like this. She'll be panicked the whole time." He was sympathetic to that hurt. She had several perfectly valid reasons. "Let me take her through the kitchens, we can go straight to your quarters and avoid the pomp and circumstance."

Romulus nodded quickly. He stepped over to Elitia and touched her shoulder gently. "You're alright. Nothing will happen to you, Elitia. Not while I'm alive."

(Take all the time you need. I hope everything is alright)

(Oh, thanks much! Everything is fine, just a get together with spotty phone service. Didn't mean to alarm)

Elitia jumped as a sudden hand touched her shoulder. She flinched back only to turn and see Romulus standing beside her. She didn't move away from him but she also didn't move toward him. She couldn't look at him. She couldn't look at either of them.
She took deep breaths, focusing on her breathing and calming herself. "I'm okay. I just needed a minute." She said to them, her eyes locked on the palace. "It would be more suspicious to be sneaking me inside and taking me to his rooms would it not? I'll be okay. I can hold it together."

(Okay good. It sounded like something had happened.)

(Very kind of you to worry ☺️ )

Romulus immediately pulled his hand back and stepped away from her, hands raised, head down. He didn't want to be threatening.

Lear shook his head. "Soldiers and their guests go in through the kitchens all the time. Nobody will bat an eye. Going through the front would force us to identify you, or use the Princes authority to make people not ask, both of which are suspicious actions."

Romulus nodded. "Lear can pass you off as nothing out of the ordinary easier than I can. I'm under scrutiny as soon as we get into the city limits." He still wasn't looking at her, and hadn't moved, trying to be careful with her.

Elitia nodded her head. She took a step forward and then another one, until she was in front of Romulus.
"I'm okay." No she wasn't. "Don't worry about me." Please, worry about me. "This isn't your fault." It's your father's fault.
She kissed his cheek before taking a small step back. She turned to Lear. "Do you want me to ride with you now or do you want to wait until we're closer?"

Romulus touched her arm as she stepped back, not letting her get far. "Elitia…" He wanted to say several things, but none of them felt like they would come out right. They were both anxious about the Palace, for wildly different reasons.

Lear watched her for a moment.
"We'll switch when we get closer. We're about an hour out yet." He turned Tabor towards the Palace. "If you don't mind, ride with the Prince for a while yet."

Romulus nodded at him, but kept his eyes on her face. "Stay with me a little longer…" he said softly.

Elitita nodded at Lear and turned back to Romulus. After a moment, she stepped into his arms. She need peace and comfort and it was something only he could provide for her. She wrapped her arms loose around his waist and placed her head on his chest.
"I'll stay with you as long as you need." She murmured quietly.
She closed her eyes as she breathed in his scent. She let it wash over her, proving safety and comfort. She was safe. He was safe. She didn't need to worry as long as she was with him.

Romulus pulled her into him tighter with one arm, before lifting them both up onto Ruir's back with a swinging motion. She wound up sitting backwards, facing him, and he lifted her onto his legs, so she was sitting on him, straddling his waist. It kept them in a hugging position, and Ruir took off following Tabor, so as long as Romulus stayed in the saddle, they were good.
The Prince smelled, as usual, like leather and metal, and at the moment, he had the sharp minty tang of the salve mixed in as well.
He held her, not wanting her to have to watch the palace get closer. He rested his chin on top of her head gently, and rubbed her back.

Romulus also slowly got more and more anxious.

Chest wounds, shoulder wounds, scratches on the arms, burns over a lot of his body, and a quickly-healing-but-still-there concussion, and his father was about to add to it.
On top of that, the situation in Calegon would likely require a lot of work to overcome, and Elitia, smothered in his arms, was going to be a situation he dealt with for a long time. Between her trauma, their complicated friendship-or-whatever, and her identity, Romulus had a lot to work through if he was going to add the sharp beauty to his network safely, and maybe even one day put her on the throne.

The man was made of steel, he'd been bred and raised to have nerves of iron, and even so, this day was making his chest hurt.

Elitia hadn't been expecting for him to lift her in the saddle like thay but she made no protests. She cuddled into him, keeping her head on his chest. She rubbed his back gently. She was grateful for him doing this. He didn't need too. He probably shouldn't with how they way she treated him when they first met.
But here they were.
"Thank you." She whispered.

Romulus didn't hear her over the noise of Ruir running, or the noise in his head.

They made good time, covering that last hour of road without incident. They made their way into the city, with Ruir as their pass through any checkpoint. Whether people recognized Lear or Romulus at all, they all knew the massive red Wulf only belonged to one person.

Lear eventually pulled up again, about 2 rows of houses outside the Palace wall. Ruir stepped up next to him, and he looked up at Romulus. "It's time."

The Prince nodded, before pushing Elitia back from his chest gently, so he could look her in the eyes. "Go with Lear, and I'll see you as soon as I can."

Elitia didn't notice how much time had passed. She had been lost in thought. She frowned as she was pushed back, already missing his warmth. She looked at Lear briefly before turning back to Romulus.
She nodded her head. "Okay. I guess I'll see you inside."
She started to get off, paused, kissed him hard and quick, then got off. She climbed on the horse behind Lear and placed her hands on his hips to stabilize herself.
"Alright, I'm ready."

The Prince kissed her back, and watched her get on behind Lear. He glanced at Lear, gave him a slight nod, and then turned. He set his eyes on the Palace gate, and made a low growling noise, at which Ruir snarled and took off running. The guards saw him coming as he exited the rows of houses, and the gates swung open wide for him.

Lear watched him go, worrying for his friend. He would drop Elia off in the quarters and go find him quickly, so that he could tend the inevitable wounds sooner rather than later. He made a small noise, and Tabor took off running for the back-side entrance of the gate, where the kitchens were.
Riding with Lear was a different experience. He was an entirely different man from the Prince.
Romulus was built of brick. Lear was built with wire and cables. Romulus sat on Ruir like a rock, unmoving and stable. Lear moved with Tabor, always steady, but never still. Romulus made Elitia feel safe. Lear managed to make her feel taken care of, despite the differences.

They approached the gates, and the guards recognized Lear. They didn't bother to ask before they let him in, and he pulled Tabor's reins to stop him. "We've made it."
The small courtyard they were in was the garden out behind the kitchens. The servants would grow little things back here, garnish and small herbs and medicinal things. It also had multiple fire pits, for when they needed to roast large amounts of meat for parties and things.
Lear stepped off of Tabor and helped her down, before taking her arm like he was escorting her. Really, he was keeping her close and making sure she was supported if she started to panic. He lead her across the garden and into a small door, and they were in.

She was back in the Palace.

Elitia watched everything as they passed, noting the differences from when she had been there twelve years ago. She was able to hide to her panic and keep the calm facade. Her nails digging into his skin said otherwise. Seeing everything was bringing back memories she hadn't realized were there.
She swallowed visibly as she descended the horse. She took a moment to look at the palace. This was it. She was entering the place she vowed to never enter again. She was grateful Lear was with her to act as a buffer. He was something solid to hold onto and offer support. She only wished she had been with Romulus and not Lear. She felt a deeper connection with the prince. He understood her ways other couldn't. But Lear also understood her in a way Romulus didn't.

As they moved through the kitchens, Lear weaved his way through servants and food with a practiced ease. If it had been the Prince, he would have been stopped every two feet to talk to someone or congratulate someone or answer some questions, but Lear was far less important in people's minds, and thus was able to move with a speed that was helpful to keeping the panic down.
He talked to Elia as if he were escorting an old friend through his home. "We've done a lot of hiring, and did a full staff overhaul several years ago. New servants, new soldiers, new people in every role in the palace." He was reassuring her that no one would recognize her as they walked through. He kept a grip on her arm so that if she began to pass out, or her legs gave out, he could catch her easily and keep them from making a scene and drawing attention to themselves.
Lear was well aware of his own trauma responses, and he knew what he needed in this situation, so he did his best to give Elia whatever support she needed. As they exited the kitchens, and entered the living spaces of the Palace, Lear's position as the Prince's Lieutenant did much of the work. Servants nodded at him, guards saluted, and nobody asked questions. Nobody looked at them long enough to notice the shaken girl on his arm. This is what Lear had been counting on. If Elia had come in with Romulus, rumors would have been flying within minutes.
They made it through the guest rooms, into the section of the Palace reserved for nobles and royalty. Lear knew this section would be problematic for her, so he guided her quickly but carefully into the set of rooms that made up the Prince's quarters. He closed the tall double doors behind them and deposited her onto a couch.
"Just breathe, you're safe, you're alright." He didn't let go of her, giving her something to brace against if she needed it.

Elia put her arm around Lear's waist, her fingers digging into his side harder the more they walked through the palace. Her gaze was focused on the floor in front of her as her anxiety rised every second they were in there.
The problem arised when they eventually reached the halls reserved for the royals. All she could see was blood and fire and bodies. She could the screams of her dying family and guards. She could feel her body being dragged out of bed. It was hard to breathe. Her body was shaking like a leaf.
She all but collapsed on the couch that she was set onto. Her bowed and she placed her hands on her ears. She took shaky breaths and tears rolled down her cheeks. This was a bad idea. She thought she could do it. She thought she could return here with no problem but she had been mistaken. This was harder than she thought it would be.