Arriving at the City

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

Henri had always been the quiet, thoughtful one, so I took his behavior in stride and grinned wide at his last words. "Thank you. I can't wait for winter."

[Pierre Legard (D)]

I watched Henri exit once the carriage had come to a stop and sighed, now alone in the cab of the carriage. I waited for a time, unsure of what to say or do, I was afraid that if I saw them with Christophe that I'd want to punch him, tell him to go back to his whore house and leave my family alone.

But I had to leave the carriage eventually, so, taking a deep breath I exited slow and smooth, a soldiers movements. I saw them and went toward them slowly, my face placid and unmoving as I neared. I kepts on the outside of them, I wasn't interested in being included, as far as I was concerned I was only there to ward my siblings Marie and Henri.
My gaze shifted from one thing to another, between Marie and Henri, not wanting to look at Christophe and not wanting to attract attention that would make him talk to me.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I was conscious of him the moment the door of the carriage swung open. He took his sweet time getting out and wandering over, disapproval dripping off every line of his body. I forced a smile to stay on my face as I looked at his eyes, inwardly daring him to meet my gaze. "Hello Pierre."

[Pierre Legard (D)]

I sighed inwardly as he spoke to me and glanced around for a moment before looking back to him.
"Hello Christophe." I replied, catching his gaze for a moment before looking away. I didn't care to be included in the revelry so it was best I made myself into some one less approachable. If I refused to look at him for long periods of time then perhaps he would get the hint and leave me be.
I had to admit though, it hurt, standing there with my siblings and feeling disconnected with them. Christophe and I had been close before he left, he had been some one I cherished spending time with, my little brother. I had looked forward to showing him the ropes, teaching him things a big brother should, and then he went and spoiled all of that by running away to his house of lies.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"You might as well say whatever it is and get it out of your system now big brother," I said evenly, watching him. It didn't take a Valerian to know that he was going to be trouble if he didn't let off some steam.

[Marie Legard]

I sighed softly, feeling forgotten and knowing there was going to be a blow up between Pierre and Christophe. I glanced around, wondering if there was a way for me to slip away.

[Pierre Legard (D)]

I looked at him, a brow raised.
"I have nothing to say... Christophe." I said with a little bite to his name as I spoke it. I did have nothing to say, to him especially.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

Oh yes, he was going to simmer quietly, and then explode later. Oh joy.

"Fine. Let me know when you change your mind," I replied, then proceeded to ignore him, as he so desperately seem to want. "I'll lead your driver to our townhouse. Marie, you're light enough, would you like to ride with me on Kaffee?"

[Marie Legard]

The sound of my name caught my attention and I looked at Christophe.

"Yes, thank you," I said, smiling. "I'd like that very much." The idea of not being trapped in that carriage for any longer was a blessing.

[Pierre Legard (D)]

"Um, I don't think so Marie." I said as soon as I realized what was going on. I looked and Christophe and glared.
"He'll probably forget your with him and let you fall, or make you fall just to see you in pain. Thats what Valerian whores like don't they Christophe. Pain." My words were quiet, not entirely calm, but I wasn't being loud in the least. What I said was more matter-of-factly.
"You'll ride in the carriage Marie, even if I have to drag you there myself. I came to look after you, and I won't let you be put in any danger."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"I take no pleasure in seeing pain in others," I replied evenly, the only outward sign of any irritation was how my hand came to casually rest on the hilt of my sword. "Marie is an adult now, and free to make her own decisions. She will be just as safe with me as she would be in the carriage."

[Pierre Legard (D)]

I went toward him slowly, noticing the touch of his hand to the hilt of his sword. I was surprised that a Valerian adept was allowed to carry one, perhaps his lover enjoyed the sight of it. He must of thought that he was a big man now that he had one, it was likely I could take him no problem, even if he had a sword and I didn't.
"Marie may be an adult but I was sent to take care of her and I don't trust you with her care and therefore its my responsibility to take care of her." I pointed out.
"Marie, get in the carriage please." I kept my eyes on Christophe but my sentance was directed to my little sister.

[Marie Legard]

“You weren’t sent here at all Pierre,” I said, furious that he was treating me like a baby. “You couldn’t find a way to make me stay after father said I could come so you tagged along. I have put up with your glowering and making me miserable since we left home. I will not put up with it any longer. I am going to ride with Christophe or I am going to walk all the way through these crowded streets where I have no idea where I am going, those are the choices.”

I took a deep breath. “And if you lay a hand on me I will scream so loud that every guard at the gate will be here before your ears stop ringing.” I turned my attention to Christophe. “I’m ready to ride now.”

[Pierre Legard (D)]

Figured as much, I didn't expect anything else from Marie. She claimed to be a grown adult but she still acted like a child.
"I'll choose the crowded streets." I said happily. "Better then to ride with a virtual stranger." I added before moving toward Marie and leaned over to looked at her, my eyes locked with hers, my face inches from hers.
"And don't try to threaten me little sister. You forget that the guard are my peers now, who are they going to believe. Me, a dedicated soldier, or you... an obviously high strung and spoiled child? Hmm?" I asked as I raised my brows.
"If you want to be an adult Marie, you should start acting like one and making mature decisions." I pulled back from her and stepped back.
"The carriage Marie, now."

[Marie Legard]

I moved, but only to step as close to Pierre as he’d been to me a moment before.

“And what fun you’ll have with your new ‘peers’ when the first time they meet you you are being charged with assaulting your own sister on a public street. I wonder how much faith they will have in your ability to guard the queen when you can’t even control your own little sister?” I said. “I am an adult Pierre and everyone treats me like one but you. You are my brother, not my father, not my hired guard. Until you act like my brother, I will not listen to anything you tell me to do.”

[Pierre Legard (D)]

I chuckled, my hands clasped behind my back.
"Again, I think I have better odds at having them see my side then yours." I said as I looked at her seriously but with a little smirk on my face. I glanced to the side looking away from her and waved my hand dismissively.
"Fine, go with some one you barely know." I shrugged as I looked back at her. "One day you'll grown up and see what me and our parents always saw," I glanced to Christophe and then back to her.
"One day you'll regret that you didn't listen to me and trusted yourself with some one that betrayed our family." I turned from her and walked toward the carriage, not really caring anymore. I knew the truth enough, and one day everyone else would see it too.

[Marie Legard]

He walked away and my held fell forward as I took a shuddering breath. I squeezed my eyes closed as I gathered myself. I would not allow him to make me cry.

Lifting my head again, I tossed my hair back and looked at Christophe. “Can we walk so that Henri can stay with us?” I asked softly.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I gazed at Pierre's back, thinking of Father. I had thought, when he wrote back to say that my siblings would attend the wedding, that he had gained some flexibility in the last twelve years. That perhaps he had regretted sending me away. But he had sent Pierre, who called me a whore and a traitor. He hadn't changed, just couldn't stop Marie. I don't think anything could stop my little sister.

A single calming breath, in and out, and I let it flow off of my shoulders. Patrons have called me worse, I reminded myself. "If you wish little brother. I hadn't thought of it, but you probably both want to stretch your legs after that ride, don't you?" I replied, going to untie my mount's reins.

[Henri Legard]

I stood, fairly awed, though I shouldn't have been. This was a long time coming and far from over, but to air family laundry in the streets, busy or not, large City or small town, it was not propoer and I coloured in embarassment for my family at it. And now, given the choice to walk with Christophe, to do the catching up I had wanted to do, had intended to do, or to sit in the carriage with a glowering elder brother about ready to nigh snap someone's head off... it was obvious which choice should be taken, but at the same time, I felt like I needed to be in that carriage, trying to calm him.

Then again, what good would that do. I was the soft one afterall, and second youngest. My words would not soothe, and would most likely serve to intensify the situation.

I sighed, looking down at my clasped hands, my brows worried together. My mind wandered back to the dinner that Pierre and I had shared, and how unbending he was. It seemed there was no compassion in him, and I wondered if anyone would be able to engender this in him, or if he was a lost cause.

All this passed through my mind as I stood, unspeaking with my eyes narrowed, staring at the cobbled stones.

"Yes," I murmured, raising my head, "Yes you are right. I shall walk with the two of you."

[Marie Legard]

For a moment I thought Henri would sacrifice himself and go ride in the carriage with Pierre. Henri tried to make peace to the point of self sacrifice sometimes, and I was happy he chose the right path this time.

Smiling, I reached out and squeezed Henri's hand. “Which way?” I asked Christophe.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Right this way," I replied, leading Kaffee on my right side so that Marie and Henri could fall in on my left. I smiled at them as we started home. "I was glad to hear that you were coming. Tell me all about what's happened since Mother passed."

[Marie Legard]

“Nothing’s happened,” I said with a sigh as I fell in step with Christophe. “Nothing ever happens there, you know that.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Oh come on now," I said, my grin coming easier. "Who married whom, whom has Madam Peche annoyed latest, how was the harvest this year, has Father found anyone else? I want all the gossip."

[Marie Legard]

“Father barely leaves the house anymore,” I said, shrugging. “He has no interest in meeting someone else.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"I suppose that is fair. He and Mother loved each other very much," I said, not thinking of how little they seemed to love me.

[Henri Legard]

I followed along beside Marie, listening to the conversation as I kicked small stones with the toe of my boot, my hands clasped behind my back and my wavy blond locks swaying forward, causing me to toss my head to the side every once in a while to clear my field of vision.

"Yes but... I think that that was the pushing point... mother's death, to move on in other areas of his family life... I think it broke the dam. I just wish it had not left him feeling as though he had nothing really else to live for. Or at least that's how it seems to me, the way he moves about the house, and how he rarely tends to the lands that he loved so much." I sighed. Father was a sore subject for me, especially because I had spent most of my life following after him, learning from him.

[Marie Legard]

“Father knows you are taking far better care of the lands than he ever could Henri,” I said, hating the bitterness in his voice. “Harvests have been better ever since you’ve been in charge.” I smiled playfully. “Enough so that your talents have caught the eye of Lord d’Ambrige, did you know that? I heard a rumor that he was considered speaking to father about you marrying his daughter Linaya.”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I stayed quiet for the moment, listening to them talk. I had missed this, had missed them, for all these years.

[Henri Legard]

I blushed at her words. This had never come up with me. "I... I had no clue..." I murmured, stammering and hoping that I could at least keep my feet straight. "Lands I know about.. .women..." I trailed off with a nervous laugh. "Im sure it will come to naught," I said waving my hand though I smiled, ducking my head to hide my heated cheeks and hating that my embarassment always showed so obviously.

[Marie Legard]

“I’m not so sure,” I said, smiling. “When I was delivering lunch to Widow Scarlet three days before we left I ran into Linaya on the road on my way home. She was trying to be subtle, but she had all sorts of questions about you. I think she’s smitten.”