forum A Thing You Won't Remember

Started September 18, 2022 by @ElderGod-yellowqueen

tune

(totally understandable! Focus on your work :) )

Uriah hurried down to the library, where he found only Lily. She knew where Calvin was, though, so he sent her after the boy. They had instructions to meet Lady Ebony at the front door. He hastened to do just that.

Out front, the guards all looked like they'd been caught sleeping. They hadn't, exactly, but the Prince was such a recognizable figure, Uriah wondered how they could have missed that it was him approaching.

Romulus leapt off of Ruir's back, landing with an earth shattering clank. He strode past the guards, who were either bowing and scraping, or were at stiff attention. A gentle "At ease." was all he said to them, the guards relaxing a bit.
The Prince stood at the bottom of the steps in his full armor, helmeted head tilted up to look at them.

Lily and Calvin scurried out just then, Lily smoothing her dress as she fell into place next to Uriah, Calvin squaring his shoulders as he planted his feet next to Lady Ebony.

Ebony stood with her back straight, watching the prince approach. She dipped into a curtsy, the children following suit. She stood, placing a hand on Calvin's back.
"Welcome to Morganshire, Your Highness. We thank you for acceoting our invitation. A room has been prepped for your stay. You must be tired from your long journey. Let me show you to your room for the duration of your stay. Dinner will be ready in an hours time, should you find yourself hungry."
She had used perfumes to cover the smell of wine on her, bit if one was close enough, they would still be able to smell it on her breath.

Romulus performed an elaborate bow, made all the more impressive by doing it in armor that weighed as much as a whole other person. He climbed the steps and stopped one step below Ebony, Uriah, and the kids.
He was still taller than all of them.
"Countess. Uriah. Master Calvin. Lily." His greeting was friendly, if a bit stiff. No point in tipping off the staff that he knew them all well. "I regret that I am unable to stay for long. I must be on my way soon. However, I wanted to see how you all are getting on here on the Estate." His voice had an odd echoey effect from inside the helmet. "If I may, I'd like to sit and talk to the 4 of your in particular. Perhaps a study, or sitting room?"

Ebony pursed her lips but didn't comment on that. It was alright. Her staffed worked hard on prepping the estate but it was fine. It was all fine. She wasn't hurt at all. She wasn't hurt that he didn't say goodbye, that she hadn't heard from him at all. She wasn't hurt one bit.
"Yes of course. We can speak in my office. I must insist you stay for dinner. Our kitchen has been slaving over it for hours. They would be disappointed if you did not have any." She moved her body to allow th prince to walk inside. She lead them all to get private office, clicking the door behind them all and turning the lock. She wanted to ensure that they would not be interrupted.

Romulus nodded slowly. "Have them prepare the food as a pack. I shall enjoy the fruits of their labors on the road." He really couldn't stay super long. The group he'd been with were continuing on, and he had to get back to the Palace tonight and be ready to ride hard for the Eastern Border in the morning.
Really, that was the only reason he'd stopped at all. He was going to war.
The Prince stepped inside and pulled off his helmet. He shook his head trying to clear it of the helmet sense he always got from being in the armor a while. Uriah moved to take his helmet, and Romulus handed it to him as they entered the office.
He looked good. Healed. His injuries hadn't left any permanent damage, except a small scar over his eye. But he was moving just fine, and for the first time in a while, he looked as healthy as the first moment Ebony had seen him. Better, in fact.
"Thank you, Uriah. I trust things go well for you?"
"They do, My Prince." He didn't need to say more. What Romulus hadn't asked him about, he didn't want to know about just now.
Romulus took a seat, the weight of him causing the chair to creak quite a it.
"Lily, my dear, how have you been?" He gave her a gentle smile, and that was all the girl needed.
"Oh, your highness, I've been learning so much and I've been so happy and…" She proceeded to babble for a few minutes about the privileges she had now and the opportunities she'd been given and how grateful she was for all of it. Romulus could feel his heart warming as she gushed about how happy she was with this life.
Eventually, she realized she was the only one talking, and wound down her happy monologue. The Prince gave her a warm smile as she blushed slightly at her own behavior.
"That is exactly what I wanted to hear. Your happiness brings me joy, Lily."
He looked to Calvin. "And what of you, young Master of Morganshire?"
Calvin squared his shoulders again, and answered him. "I have found the weight of responsibility heavy, but you only get stronger by lifting what's heavy." He proceeded to talk of a few of the same things as Lily, how grateful he was, and how much he enjoyed the privileges and opportunities. He also talked about some of the things he was learning, specifically as it related to Lordship and military movement, and surprised Romulus by asking a question at the end of his 'report'. "My Prince… why is the King sending you in as the front line?"
Romulus's smile faded just slightly, and he raised an eyebrow. "You noticed that oddity, did you?" He thought for a moment, before smiling again. "Would you be satisfied if I explained that move in a letter? It would ake too long here." Calvin nodded, and Romulus smiled wider. "Good."
He stood up. "Now. If you 3 wouldn't mind, I'd like to talk to Lady Ebony alone, please." He looked at her, knowing they wouldn't go anywhere unless she dismissed them.

Ebony took a seat at the head of the desk. Her back was straight and poised. Her expression was neutral, though she did quirk up her lips at Lily's rambling. She listened to Calvin, pride swelling in her. She knew one day he would make a great Lord. Better than she ever could be or even dreamed of it. She just didn't to continue their lessons. Ensure that no matter how old he got, he understood how to care for his people.
But any emotions she may have been feeling were ripped away when the king addressed her directly. She stiffened more, if that was possible. She looked at the children, Uriah, and gave a small nod. A silent dismissal. She waited until the door clicked shut before pouring herself a glass of wine. She had a feeling this conversation was going to warrent it.
There was so much she wanted to say. So much she wanted to ask. What had he been doing? Why hadn't he written to her? Why didn't he say goodbye? And while the words were the tip of her tongue, she swallowed then along with a sip of her wine.

Romulus watched them go, before turning to Ebony with a small smile on his face. "Well. Lady Ebony. How are you adjusting?" It was a genuine question that he sincerely wanted an answer to.
The Countess looked beautiful, but… she also was definitely hiding the effects of stress and a drinking problem under makeup and that lovely dress. He'd seen hints of her alcohol problem before, but didn't know her well enough to really see how it would affect her. But now… well, Lily had written about it, worried, and Lear had relayed that to him.
She hadn't started behaving erratically yet, but it was sure to start happening if she kept this up.

Ebony offered him a glass. She tapped her own nails against her glass in an attempt to hide her shaking hands. She was sure if it was the lack of sleep, anxiety, or that she had gone hours without an ounce of wine and her body was suffering the side affects of it.
"I'm adjusting well enough. I have a good household and a patient enough staff manager. He's been teaching me well. We've started renovations. The manor is old and hasn't had anyone to truly look after it. It's falling apart. It's expensive but we can afford it well enough." She paused, taking a sip of her wine. "Why are you here, Romulus?"

The Prince didn't immediately answer her question. He took the offered glass, noting her shaking, and quaffed it in one go. "That's delicious." He set the glass down.
"Send your costs to Lear. I told you I'd help with the cost of wardrobe, education, and renovation, and I plan on it."
He sat back in his chair, looking at her for a long moment.
"Why am I here?" He smiled. "Why did you invite me?"
He'd planned on just riding through, and didn't want her to get reports of unknown soldiers riding through her lands. Lear had sent the message with that intent.

Ebony watched him. "There's no need. We can afford it. We can more than afford the costs. And you've sent more than enough. Well, Lear has I suppose." Because he had never once sent anything personally.
"It would be rude of me not to invite the prince riding through my lands. Though I'm surprised to see you alone." Another sip of wine. "So why are you riding through my lands? And what's so important you couldn't possibly stay for supper."

Romulus smiled at her. "Don't worry, Lear's not funding you out of his personal pocket. You know I'm going to send you more anyway, you may as well send us your costs."
He tilted his head sideways. "It wouldn't be rude at all. I don't expect every noble to spread the red carpet for me."
He sat up a bit straighter. "Well, let me roll 3 answers into one. I've been pulling more children from bad situations for the last two weeks, and my travel back to the Palace took me across your lands. I'm alone because Lear needed to stay with the kids. It's just Lear, Carth and I, and Carth has been hurt. So they're riding back still. It's just the three of us because my father has the rest of my guards gearing up for war. We ship out tomorrow, and I couldn't convince him to spare them. That's also why I can't stay." He leaned forward. "I leave before dawn to ride to victory and glory, defeating my enemies on the field of battle." The sarcasm dripped off of his tone, his frustration with the whole thing showing clearly. "And seeing as I'm still 2 hours from the Palace, and we need to get those kids placed tonight, I've got a lot of work to do before dawn."
He wasn't looking for sympathy, but she'd asked.

Ebony listened to him carefully, letting the words mold in her head. She tapped her fingers against the wood desk, needing something to do with them. "You can take them here." She said finally. "The kids. Calvin and Lily will know how to talk to them. It's safer here and more welcoming. I can work with Lear with finding good homes for them. One less thing off of your plate and we both know they will be safe with me."
She would never let anything happen to them. She would guard children with her life. They were innocent of most things. They hadn't yet lived and deserved a chance with loving families.

The Prince looked at her evenly for a moment. "If you're sure, I'll take you up on that. Though, I'll have to entrust Uriah with advising you on homes. Lear will be with me when we go." He smiled at her. "I trust you to make good decisions though, and there are only a few. They'll arrive in the morning, though, because they're ahead of me. The Manor wasn't exactly on the way."
He scooted forward in his seat and leaned towards her, resting his arms on the desk. "Ebony… how are you really getting along?" His icy blue eyes locked on hers for a moment, his expression gentle but earnest.

"It's no trouble. It would please me to help them." And it would. It would Ebony a sense of belonging. It would certainly add more to her plate. More stress. More sleepless nights. But now she would be doing something more than just learning to manage her own household. "I'll have the staff prepare enough rooms and food for them."
She stiffened at his question and leaned back into her chair. She stared at him for a moment, wondering why he would ask such a thing. "Yes. I am fine Romulus. And you would know if you had bothered to send a letter."

" I very much appreciate you taking this on." She couldn't know what a load it would be off of him and Lear, but he was grateful.
Her angered reaction to his question caught him off guard. He sat back in his chair, just looking at her for a bit.
"What makes you think I have time to write letters to anyone?" he asked quietly. Over the last couple of months, he'd spent every spare minute either organizing troops, saving children, or trying to heal. That she would be mad he hadn't written to her, like some love-lorn teenager, bothered him.
That she would respond in anger to a genuine question told him everything he needed to know about the nature of their friendship. She'd tolerated him because he'd been nice, and had nearly slept with him out of pity, or sympathy, or trauma, or something like that. The months between now and then had given her a chance to clear her head, which was good, and Romulus couldn't blame her for coming to the conclusion everyone else had.
Who would really care for a beast like him?

Ebony watched him with calculated eyes. "You were my friend. We were friends. Friends write to each other, even if it's just a couple words written down to let them know you're okay." She said quietly.
She thought they had been friends. He had been kind to her, treated her well. She thought they had developed that relationship, or at least a relationship. They never had finalized what exactly they were. And she supposed it was all coming out now.
"You never even said goodbye. You didn't tell me goodbye. You had the opportunity and you didn't take it. Friends say goodbye to each other. They send letters, they visit when they can. Friends get to check in on each other. Strangers do not."

Romulus looked at her, thinking, his heart sinking in his chest.
He wanted to remind her that she hadn't written to him either, and if it was so easy and important to her, then she easily could have.
He wanted to remind her he had said goodbye, in his way, and that whatever 'chance' she thought he'd had, she was mistaken.
He wanted to say that he was literally visiting her right this instant, and did she think he had so much free time on his hands he could just go and do whatever he liked?
He wanted to say that if she really thought of him as a friend, and not just somebody who owed her something, then she'd be able to pick up where they'd left off, like he was trying to.

But clearly, none of that mattered, and she'd made up her mind. Her words consigned him to stranger status.
So he said none of it.

"…. You're right, and I suppose this was a mistake then." He stood, placed his helmet back on his head, and bowed low. Stiff and polite.
"My apologies for intruding, Countess Morganshire. Thank you for your hospitality."
He turned and headed out the study door.

Ebony's lip wavered, though she tried her best to conceal it. She stood as he made his way to the door. "Is that it then?" Her anger was getting the best of her. Maybe it was the amount of wine consumed, perhaps it was her sleep depravity. "Are you that much of a coward that you're just giving up? The prince that I met months ago would have never given up. He was strong and unbelievably pushy. He didn't give up until I had accepted him, accepted what he wanted for me, and given me this role. A new life, a new chance. You put up with me. You showed me everything I could have if only I was strong enough to take it. And here you are, walking out on me, because what? I'm angry you didn't write? You didn't say goodbye? Are you upset I didn't come back for a good fuck?"
Her words had begun to slur there at the end. Maybe it had been all the wine, but she clung to it because it was the only way she could keep her sanity, even if it did make her a bit angry. Without it, without an outlet, she would likely lose her mind. There was so much for her to do, so many people relying on her. Questions day in and day out. Grievances from the people that resided in her land. So much she had to do and so little time to do it all. She had no outlet for any of it. And it was the wine that helped shoulder the burden.

Romulus turned at the door to look at her, though his helmet hid his facial expression. He didn't say anything for a moment, but when he did, his voice was quiet.
"I pushed then because it was for your good. I'm leaving now for the same reason."
He wasn't the one upset. He wasn't angry at her, or taking revenge, or giving up on anything. He had checked the status of their friendship by asking if she would be honest with him, and she had rebuffed him and told him they were strangers. He wasn't really sure why she thought he was giving up, when really he was just respecting what she'd so clearly shown him just now. That she didn't want him there.

That she just didn't want him.

He turned and walked towards the front door of the Manor, nodding to Uriah as he went.

"If it's for my own good, you would have come a lot sooner," Ebony said softly, defeated.
She didn't bother trying to stop him this time. She knew there was no changing his mind once it had been made. She learned that a long time ago. It was the reason she was standing there, the Countess of Morganshire.
She slid back into her seat, her legs seemingly giving out on her. It was as if her body was finally catching up to her. The wine, the lack of sleep, the anxiety. I was all crashing down on her. "Uriah, make sure the cooks have prepped food to go and bring it to the prince before he leaves. And close the door." Her words were slurring, her voice barely above a whisper.
When the door was shut and she was left alone in her silence, she crossed her arms on the desk and placed her head down. She couldn't tell you where they came from or why, but once she started sobbing, she couldn't seem to stop. It was ugly and loud and her whole body shook. She was sure anyone that walked by could hear her but she hoped they understood that a closed door meant she didn't want to be interrupted.

Uriah watched the Prince walk out, a giant shadow built of black rock, and felt something in his chest sink. Lady Ebony's order that he close the door, and the sobs that followed, did not assuage his concerns.
He started to hurry towards the kitchens, to make sure the food was ready, before the yell from the gates and the powerful howl from Ruir alerted him that the Prince was on his way. Already gone.
The Knight went back to the study door, posting himself outside and warding off the few well-meaning servants who came to check if her Ladyship would be needing anything before bed. He sent them all to their quarters, to sleep.
He stayed posted there, even once the sobs from within softened, and eventually disappeared.
~~~~

Romulus rode hard for the Palace. He was frustrated, his face locked down behind the helmet.
He'd been at the Morganshire Manor for all of half an hour, from the time he entered the gates to the time he exited them. He'd come in, hoping the friendship he'd cultivated would have some longevity to it.
He'd left, understanding that Elitia was, once again where he was concerned, 'Venomous indeed.'

He caught up to the small group quite easily, and escorted them into the Palace gates. The children were able to rest in comfortable beds, while Lear and Romulus made provision for them to be taken to Morganshire the next morning. Once that was taken care of, the men prepared to ride for the Eastern border.
Romulus got no sleep that night, largely owing to the amount of work he had to do. On top of that, there were a million things on his mind.

Venians, about to be affected by a war they would neither understand nor take part in.
Haradrim, on the cusp of being embroiled in another conflict for land and status.
Peasants, ready to have their homes and livelihoods destroyed by marauders from either country.
Nobles, on the verge of having to support their monarchs with their money and their blood.
His father, the King, charging into the jaws of death for no good reason at all, for yet another land grab with no real provocation.
And Romulus, the jocular jackass son of a usurper King, riding into a war he neither believed in nor wanted anything to do with, hoping only to mitigate the effect of his father's brutality and thirst for blood.

Morning came too soon and not soon enough.

Dawn saw the hordes of Haradrim leaving the Palace, riding hard for two points on the border.
The King lead his army Northeast, towards the border with Rhun, planning on penetrating towards their capital and attacking their monarch.
The Prince lead his army straight East, towards a different point on the same border, with orders to burn and pillage and bring the people to their knees. He was planning on doing no such thing, but he also knew there would be military resistance, and that was his mission.

A half hour after the thundering of fiery hooves and Wulf paws disappeared from the palace, there was a quieter sound of departure, as a group of 6 children were gently loaded onto a cart and driven towards Morganshire. They would arrive around 9:30 that morning, the last act of Romulus's kindness before he left for war.

He could only hope they would not be his final kind act ever.

Ebony cried what felt like hours. She cried until her body had exhausted itself and she had nothing left to cry. There wasn't anything particular that had started it. It was just the pressure, the stress, and everything in between that had finally caught up to her and it needed to come out one way or another.
In moment life this, she wished she was back at the brothel. It was a simpler time, a simpler life. Men came for her body, she gave it to them, then she was free to do as she pleased until the next night. It was simple and easy and she was smart to have patrons in her pockets that sue could force the Madame's hand. But if she was still there, Calvin and Lily wouldn't have this chance. They wouldn't have this life she had provided for them. And she wouldn't have been able to provide sanctuary for the magoi, magic users. They were so hard to find and she rarely found them before they were taken to the stake, but each one meant one more person saved. One more of her people saved. And she would continue to do so until she was arrested herself and killed.
She gave them an option. Be employed within her housed, where they would be treated well and earn a good amount of coin. Or safe passage out of the country with enough coin to get then started in their life. This was something she hid even from Uriah. She wasn't sure what his loyalties to the prince were, and the less that knew about, the better. There were five people who knew, including her. And that was four more people than she wished knew. The more people involved, the more dangerous. Robin, her head of staff whose chikd had been burned at the stake for their magic, would always greet them when they arrived. He was her voice. He offered them safe passage or a job for them. Two of the guard, twins if you will. Erryk, who was a magoi himself, would ride out into town or the neighboring towns and seek out the whispers of other magoi. If it was confirmed, he would approach in incognito and give her proposition. The other twin, Aaron, provided the safe passage of they so chose too. Any time he claimed to visiting family or chasing after a girl. He was leading a Magoi out of the country. Once they crossed the boundaries, the Magoi where on their own from there. And lastly, Calvin. She swore him into secrecy to never tell another soul. Not Lily, or Lear, or Romulus. It must be kept between them. She wanted him to continue her legacy of saving magoi, her people, when he became Lord of Morganshire.
And just as there was five of them, they had saved five. No matter how many were lost, she would not stop until she had saved every last one of her people that wanted to be saved. She could be killed for it. She could tortured for it, but she would never stop.

The Lasy Ebony had long passed out, her head on her desk, the khol around her eyes streaking down her cheeks from crying. She had fallen asleep at her desk. After crying so much, she had found gerself to exhausted to get up and even move to the small couch in her office. She could only sit there and fall asleep on her desk.
When she woke, she didn't move for the longest time. Her head and body ached, her heart ached. Sleeping on the desk had caused such a crick in her neck and back, she wasn't sure if she could even sit up. That she necessarily wanted too. She wasn't ready to face the day quite yet. Trufully, she wanted to crawl into bed and hide under the covers and never come out.

(OOOOO)

Uriah knocked on the door around 8. He'd stood outside all night, and at some point Lady Ebony's crying had quieted to the point of sleep.
He'd gone and got her breakfast, though something told him she wouldn't be hungry.
He also grabbed a damp cloth, to clean all the makeup off, as well as a change of clothes. He wasn't sure she'd want to make the trek to her rooms looking like she probably did after the night she'd had.

(HEHEHEHE)

Ebony didn't even raise her head as she murmured a "come in" just loud enough to be heard. Her head was facing the opposite way, towards the wall and the large window. She liked to look outside while she was thinking. She hadn't moved a muscle since she had woken. Her head was pouring and she was exhausted in more ways than one. Her body was tired but so was her mind. She had been working so hard, so hard. Sometimes she felt like giving up. And she would have would it not had been for Calvin and Lily. She was not strong. She was not brave. She was only twenty-one and yet she felt decades older.

Uriah stepped in and closed the door. He padded over silently, an impressive feat for a man in full armor, and set down the bowl of hot soup the cooks had sent up for breakfast on the desk behind Lady Ebony. He went and laid out the change of clothes on the couch, and stepped up behind her chair with the cloth.
"Ebony… how can I help?" He spoke gently and without any of the formality their friendship sometimes held.

Ebony didn't once turn her head as she heard Uriah enter. She just kept looking out the window silently. She smelled the food, her stomach rumbling in response and yet she did not move. Despite her stomach, she did not find herself terribly hungry. The smell of it made her nauseous and she was sure it would come right back should she try to eat.
It took a long while before she answered Uriah. "You can't." She said just above a whisper. This was her burden to bear, and no one else's.
She sat up finally, wincing as her body pulled at her sore muscles. She turned to face him, took the wet cloth from his hand and cleaned her face the best she could.

Uriah just waited. This wasn't the first time the weight of her responsibilities had settled rather harshly on her shoulders. He had learned just to wait and she'd either vent, or square her shoulders and move on.
She'd never thrown out the Prince before, though, so maybe that was adding a new variable to the mix.
The servants had been absolutely up in arms about it. The Prince had been here less than half and hour and she'd tossed him out on his ear. The only thing that kept it from being a full scandal was that he'd walked out and not been escorted by guards.
Uriah knew better than to believe all that, and besides, he'd been right there. She hadn't been screaming, he hadn't been offensive, there'd been no blows thrown. It had been a quiet conversation that had been very short.

When Ebony was sure her face was clean, she got up and walked to the couch where a dress had been laid out. It wasn't something that she would pick for herself but it was beautiful all the same. Uriah had good tastes and she wondered if he had a sister or a mother that had asked for his advice when it came to clothing.
She walked to Uriah, giving him her back, signaling for him to help her with the laces and buttons. When it was undone, she let the dress drop to the floor, dressed in only her undergarments. She slipped into the new dress and quickly laced it up. It was much easier to lace than her previous dress. She decided to take her hair out and let it fall in waves down her back. She didn't bother trying to put it in another style, despite knowing that it was customary for women to wear it up. She didn't feel like following the rules.
Eyes red and cheeks flushed from crying, circle under her eyes, she turned to Uriah with a fake smile plastered on her lips and ask, "How do I look?"

Uriah undid the laces and buttons quickly, focusing carefully on each one so as not to let his eyes wander. Beautiful, but not his to look at like that, unless she gave permission, which, in her current state of mind, he wasn't sure if this was or not. When she stepped away to dress, he made a brief study of his shoes, before glancing up in time to see her let her hair down.
Her question caught him slightly flat-footed.
"Gorgeous as always, Milady." he said quietly, no hint of anything other than genuine admiration in his voice. "Though that smile is so fake as to be carved from wood."
He wanted to ask how to help her again, how to soothe her, and some of his more manly impulses were telling him just to go for it, that she needed it, but Uriah was nothing if not a gentleman, and no hint of any of that made its way to the surface.