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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Sept 27, 2006 9:24:00 GMT -5
That morning I had spent all of my time preparing for my meeting with Jaiden, using my impeccable penmanship to write a final copy of the contract I had designed and adding the title I had learned that Elton held- I doubted that Jaiden would pay terribly much attention as she was only interested in all of this for the idea of the thing. After this would come the more difficult meeting with Elton which could well get me killed if I had misjudged the state of things, but my mind was as quick as ever and I doubted I had let anything slip beyond my grasp.
Squaring my shoulders and putting on my most professional air I gathered the paperwork and made my way to her office, knocking at the door and waiting for admittance.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Sept 27, 2006 11:52:06 GMT -5
I was just sitting behind my desk, leaned back in the deep chair and lost in thought. Mostly of Elton, and of the night I had spent so willingly with him. It's strange, looking back on all the years we'd been boon companions, liege and banner-man and last night was the first time he was truly my lover.
A knock on the door interrupted me and I abruptly sat up straight and gathered a few reports to look at, pretending business. Like I was really a girl of 14 daydreaming instead of at lessons. An almost smile creased my face at the thought.
"Enter." It was Aleron, a neatly rolled parchment in hand.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Sept 27, 2006 12:56:35 GMT -5
Jaiden't expression was about as ever though some light in her eye showed a somewhat good mood. Hopefully I could use that to my advantage. "I've got the contract written up if you'd like to look at it." Best to get straight to business.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Sept 27, 2006 14:20:23 GMT -5
I gestured for him to sit, pushing aside the papers I'd been toying with. Any levity I had felt melted away.
"So, has the gentleman you've found me signed yet?" I asked calmly. I stilled all wayward thoughts and froze the feelings of guilt and regret stirring in me. This was business, this was war, no place for foolish sentiment to take hold.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Sept 27, 2006 14:31:39 GMT -5
"The singature is not yet affixed but I have found someone I believe you will find suitable," I replied in an equally calm tone. "Here is the paperwork to look over and it will be signed by this evening."
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Sept 28, 2006 9:16:16 GMT -5
I took the scroll from him and carefully rolled it out and began reading. It looked legitimate enough and was in a fair hand, all the terms clearly laid out and defined.
"Excellently done, Aleron. Tell me of this man." My eyes kept scanning the document but my mind wasn't completely on it. I wanted to know a little about the father of my child before the deed was done and I myself signed.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Sept 28, 2006 9:27:45 GMT -5
Expression nonplussed I gave a very cold recitation of the traits this man possessed. "His estate is a small but steady one and he has only taken the title recently and thus had little interaction within it. He's not known in any sort of standing at court but reputation has it he's calm and strong of demeanor though willing to fight for what he believes should the need arise." It was a very good thing I had so much experience judging people impartially from my training in Bryony, else I may have cracked a smile or, worse, let something slip that she would grasp onto.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Sept 28, 2006 11:32:16 GMT -5
"Hmm." I replied absently. The document was quite clever and I was pleased with his work. I fished out a quill and signed where indicated. Now only if the man in question satisfied me so.
Abruptly I rolled up the scroll and passed it back to him. Enough foolishness, woman.
"Good. See that this is taken care of. I want everything arranged by the end of the week and the marriage legal. Inform him he is to move into the villa as soon as everything is in order."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Sept 28, 2006 12:08:19 GMT -5
"Yes, my lady," I responded as I took the parchmentShe had signed- now it all came down to the other person. I hoped he wouldn't have a fit of pique and refuse, or beat me to a pulp. "If you have nothing further I will be going to make the arrangements."
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Sept 28, 2006 15:11:16 GMT -5
"Good, good. Just let me know when it is finished." I dismissed him and went back to looking at the reports I'd been neglecting all morning. I needed a good fight, it would settle my thoughts.
Mayhap I'd seek Elton out to spar...
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Sept 28, 2006 15:56:21 GMT -5
With a slight bow I turned and made my way out of the room, immediately heading for Elton's chambers in hopes I would find him there. This would take some time and I wanted as much of the morning as possible.
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Oct 2, 2006 9:25:17 GMT -5
I did not want to get out of bed. For the obvious reason that getting up entailed doing my job, and doing my job entailed seeing Jaiden. And the idea of seeing Jaiden was at once excruciating and needed. So I lingered in bed. The sheets were warm and still held her scent. It was tempting to stay thus all day, but hunger eventually drove me up and out of bed.
I dressed casually and opened my door to see Aleron about to knock. The imperceptible look of surprise on his face was amusing.
"Hmm, what horrid news has our mistress charged you with delivering now?" I said jovially, moving back to let him enter.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 2, 2006 9:34:50 GMT -5
Smiling slightly, eyes narrowed, I walked in with the scroll, which I handed to him. "NO news from her," I said casually. "Though you may find this of some interest. I take it you know your grandfather's name, which your middle name is derived from, and his title, which no one currently holds?" I couldn't help but draw things along a little, it appealed to my arrogant side that still revelled in the fact it had come up with this plan.
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Oct 2, 2006 17:24:43 GMT -5
I raised an eyebrow at him as I scanned the document.
"I know who my grandfather was, just a minor baron in Camael. And my cousin holds the title. My father was only the second son, nor I in line to inherit anytime soon with Bors alive and well last I heard." I tossed the scroll back to him without really reading it.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 2, 2006 17:27:49 GMT -5
"Your cousin is dead some years with no heirs," I replied as I held the scroll back out. "And no one closer in line. I think you want to read this."
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Oct 3, 2006 9:11:30 GMT -5
I looked at the parchment as if it were a viper. Bors was dead? When the hell had that happened? Who was running the estate then? What other family had my uncle had to inherit? I was a little shocked.
And Aleron had this almost smug look on his face than made me feel incredibly stupid and childlike for not grasping what he was saying.
"Spell it out for me boy, I am not necessarily a clever, learned man such as yourself. What does any of this have to do with me?" I tried not to sound angry, but I hated feeling stupid.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 3, 2006 9:14:35 GMT -5
Well, I hadn't exactly expected any gratitude out of this, which was proving for the best. "You are heir to he lands- your uncle had no heirs and there is no other family. Therefore this document pertains to you. That is why I think you should read it and it just won't be the same if I sum it up."
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Oct 5, 2006 9:31:10 GMT -5
I snatched the document from his hands and unrolled it. Quick strides brought me to my rumpled bed and I sank down, reading furiously.
Much of the language was political, legal speak, contracts, endowments, privileges and terms. It didn't make a lot of sense.
I kept rereading the section on my inheritance, and what Aleron had madly schemed to do with it.
Jaiden obviously didn't know, or did and didn't care, or... Camael save me! Her signature was baldy fixed on the bottom of the scroll. Limply the document hung in my hands and I looked at Aleron.
"Are you mad? When she discovers this duplicity she will slay us both. Unless she knows it's me? Does she?" a kindle of irrational hope sprung up in my chest. Maybe last night proved she loved me enough...
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 5, 2006 9:38:07 GMT -5
"No- but have some faith in my scheming and duplicitious mind, will you?" I said in a bracing tone. "She said she didn't care so long as the person agreed to the contract and a few other conditions- not to take her for all she was worth, someone she could tolerate and so on. Even though she doesn't know that it is you does not mean she will be dismayed to discover so- you have to look under the icy exterior and understand that her core never changed, only the side she shows of it."
Somehow I knew that this was not the way to get through to him. "You're right, it's incredibly stupid and insane- just hand it here and I'll rip it up, toss it in the fire, tell her that you- I mean, he- had last-minute jitters and draw up a real one. It's not a big deal, I always have a fall-bakc plan." That last part was a lie, I'd spent all of my time and energy setting up things for this chance, but my pose remained non-comittal and calm. "I'm sorry to have bothered you with this."
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Oct 9, 2006 21:04:55 GMT -5
Instinctively I pulled the paper out of his reach. Was I mad. Oh yes. Would she kill us? Possibly. But the rational part of her could assert itself. The plan was sound. I didn't want her fortune or her Duchy, just her heart. What other man could say the same?
"Wait." I took a deep breath. Was I committed to this? Was it rash? Yes, and yes. "What makes you think this will work?"
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 9, 2006 21:15:25 GMT -5
"Because I have planned and set everything into accordance," I replied smoothly. "She has approved of the person this contract was created for- it being you is simply coincidence. With this she promises signing of a proxy marriage and the first meeting on Longest Night- I'm thinking a costume party where you can be unmasked at the right moment. For my own sake, in case she doesn't take it terribly well, I'm going to be gone a few days after that, though I'm not quite sure to where."
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Oct 9, 2006 21:27:08 GMT -5
"Convenient for you. The woman is to be my wife and I have not that luxury." I muttered under my breath.
Would I do this thing? No doubt the agony of her rejection, the ultimate betrayal she would feel would destroy anything we had. But in truth what did we have? Her ghosts? My withering love? My heart was tied to hers, and hers was dying, inch by inch in the ice she built around herself. Mayhap this would be the rock I needed to shatter it, to prove to her what I was willing to become for her. Would it be enough? Gods knew.
"Give me a pen."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 9, 2006 21:30:46 GMT -5
Hiding a smile of triumph- I truly believed this was for the best even if both of these stubborn rock-headed people didn't realize it yet- I brought out a fountain pen I'd capped and kept in my pocket. "Please try to sign it in the same name as the rest of the contract- it is legal but it will buy time in case she decides to look it back over."
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Oct 9, 2006 21:37:26 GMT -5
I gave him a hooded look as I took the proffered pen and signed. The name was my own, but not. How strange to realize this adept had made me a baron. Lord Tulare. How very surreal.
Deed done, I handed the scroll back to him. He had just rolled it up neatly before I grabbed his arm.
"I don't know what game this is you are playing at. But realize, there are deeper currents than you are aware of, and as much as you think this is 'fun', I go into this knowing she will hate me in the end. So don't look so damn smug, boy. Happy endings don't happen." I released him and turned away, pacing over to my window and staring sightlessly out.
"Get out. And make sure you hide somewhere safe once she finds out. I'll do my best to deflect it."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Oct 9, 2006 21:41:08 GMT -5
Sighing, I nodded curtly and stepped back toward the door, stung. This was why I had retreated and locked myself in stone, but now I had Riva and understood more about how much some things could hurt. Damn sense of empathy. "Thank you," I said quietly, then turned at walked from the room, meaning to find my own and place the contract in the locked stone box until my next meeting with Jaiden.
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Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Oct 10, 2006 3:33:18 GMT -5
I don't know how long I stood at my window, thinking, dreaming, just sightlessly seeing the activity of the courtyard. This plan was mad. And I a madman for doing it.
Decisively I left my rooms and brooding to face Jaiden in her den.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Oct 11, 2006 4:31:46 GMT -5
Speak of the Devil...
Elton had quietly knocked and entered my study, a sober look on his face. It pained me. Was he thinking of last night? Of this morning? No matter, the contract was signed and I met my betrothed in a few weeks time.
"Yes, Captain?"
He bowed smoothly and spoke, "Your Grace, I have just had word that my cousin is dead, and I his inheritor as he had no other kin. I need to ride north and settle his affairs and speak with his solicitor. I shall only need a week's leave, I think, to settle this. With your permission of course." Something was off, something wrong. He wouldn't look me in the eyes.
But then again, I had dealt him a death-wound more grievous and inhumane than I had ever dealt a foe. I should let him go. Spare him for a little longer, before being forced to serve my 'husband'.
"Fine. Arrange everything with your second and check in on Winterfell if possible. I get progress reports, but I trust your word over theirs. Camael keep you safe." He bowed again, eyes shuttered, and left.
I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, my throat feeling tight. It wasn't tears, I was just parched. Liar...
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