Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 24, 2009 15:29:33 GMT -5
Since my afternoon with Shea, my life had seemed... not worth living, in a sense, and I had remained in the palace much. After having to attend the Courcel/Somerville wedding on my own after Christien ended up sick, I had become little more then a ball of crying mess. Not because he hadn't come, or because I attended alone. My life just seemed to be one wrong step after another, one disaster waiting to happen, and I wasn't sure what I was doing any more.
That was until one day when I happened to see Shea in the halls of the palace. He hadn't seen me, but I had certainly seen him. It wasn't as if I had chosen it, but it was like I had something to focus on instead of my dwindling chances of staying here in Terre d'Ange. After that day I was do my best to know his schedule, some times I would follow him out into the City, some times I wouldn't, some times I would see him with other woman, some times alone. This particular time I found myself outside the Laughing Parot, waiting as I had seen Shea go in there.
When he emerged, I waited till he had found his direction and then began to follow behind him, trying to get close, but no so close that he could tell some one was following him.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 24, 2009 16:28:49 GMT -5
Even though I had the urge to nap, or perhaps because of it, my pace back to the palace was slow and leisurely. I let my mount move at her own pace, having no problem with stopping and letting others pass before beginning on again.
It was at one of these stops that a shop caught my eye and I decided to make a real stop before continuing on. I guided my horse to the side and hitched her to a post before dismounting. I patted her neck and then slipped inside the candy store, deciding to purchase some things for myself as well as a few gifts to send back home to my brothers and sisters.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 24, 2009 16:39:33 GMT -5
I watched him, trying not to look like I was watching him, as he sauntered along back home. When he stopped I panicked a little, not knowing what I should do, but decided that I needed to stop too. So I did, pretending to look at the window of the shoppe closest to me. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he dismounted his horse and then entered into a candy shoppe. Once he had disapeared inside I took a breath. What then, should I follow him, risk getting caught, or should I stand outside where he might notice I was still standing staring into the shoppe in front of me. My heart raced, and I took a chance, I turned and headed for the door of the shoppe, turning the knob before slipping quickly inside, spotting him and turning my back right away in case he happened to glance this way.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 24, 2009 16:44:20 GMT -5
My lethargy lifted a little once I was inside the shop, it smelled incredible and there was an amazing amount of candies for sale. I heard the door open and instinctively glanced that way. I caught a glimpse of dark hair, but before I could really focus, the clerk asked if she could help me.
Smiling, I asked for a sample of the peppermint bark, thinking my sister might like it a lot.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 24, 2009 16:47:50 GMT -5
I listened to him as she spoke, smiling a little at the sound of his voice as I moved slowly along the wall of candy bins, pretending as though I were interested. Though, in truth, it was hard not to have at least a little interest in the candy, I did have a sweet tooth.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 24, 2009 16:54:04 GMT -5
The bark was delicious and I asked for a pound to be wrapped as a gift while I began looking at the other items, quickly becoming engrossed. Such variety and if everything was as good as the bark, I think I might be frequenting this place often.
I found caramels for one brother and spiced nuts for the other, but I was having trouble deciding on something for my youngest sister. Still looking, I went to the bins on the back wall.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 24, 2009 22:11:58 GMT -5
Despite my original interest in Shea, I was soon becoming a kid in a candy shoppe and found my interest caught up in the delights of candied flower petals, and a jellied candy covered in powered sugar that came from Ephesus. As I search I felt a presence next to me and looked up to see Shea nearing me. I looked forward, freezing like a deer mid hunt and unsure of what to do. My breathing quickened, my body tensed, I had to move before he stumbled upon me, surely he would be angry to see me again. I turned on my heal spinning and moving quickly away from him but bumped into a rack of sugar canes, staling my quick escape. Blushing deeply I moved past them to the other side of the room, thinking how much of an idiot I was, so much for my dance skills!
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 24, 2009 22:16:58 GMT -5
In the midst of considering some pale pink sugar flowers for my sister, I heard a commotion nearby and turned my head. Again there was a flash of dark hair, but this time I got the impression I knew the owner. Furrowing my brow, I tried to see through the displays and other customers to see who it had been.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 24, 2009 22:28:13 GMT -5
I managed to reach the other end of the shoppe without making more of a racket, but I felt like I might faint as my heart raced and my breathing increased. What was I doing?! Why was I even following him!? I had started following just out of... I'm not even sure what; but I had always kept my distance. Why had I been so stupid to follow him in here. I began to pray that he left, that I could find a chance to escape, run away, I felt like a fool!
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 24, 2009 22:33:54 GMT -5
She, for I was sure it was a she, was out of sight and I shook my head, focusing again on the candies. I decided on a box of candied flowers for my youngest sister and added that to the other items I was purchasing. Then I had the clerk bag five different items I’d found for myself.
Everything was put into bags that I could put in my saddle bags, everything except for the small bag of caramels I kept out for myself, and I paid for the items before I left and returned to my mount. I secured my purchases and untied my mare before swinging up into the saddle. I looked towards the store one more time, feeling an itching like there was something else for me in there. Shaking my head, I turned my mount towards the palace again.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 24, 2009 22:42:11 GMT -5
When I heard him leave I took a deep breath, reaching up and covering my face with both hands.
"My lady?" I heard a voice, the same voice of the woman that had been helping Shea. "Was there anything I could get for you?" She asked and I smiled faintly and shook my head and then turned from her moving to the door, giving a little bit of time, I turned the knob and opened it, peeking out to see where he was. Sure enough he had mounted and returned on his path back to, I assumed, the palace. I took a deep breath and exited myself, walking out into the streets and began to walk as well. This time, I wasn't following him, I was headed back there as well.... Or may be I was still following him. All I knew was that I couldn't take my eyes off him as I walked.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 24, 2009 22:44:28 GMT -5
My mare knew the way, so I laid the reins across my legs as I unwrapped a caramel and popped it into my mouth, enjoying the milky sweetness as I rode.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 24, 2009 23:21:32 GMT -5
For a time I watched him till it really sunk in that I was being a child, it made me mad at myself, I was here searching for a husband, and instead of doing that I was following after a boy I liked, who didn't like me. I might as well chain myself to the dungeon, I would probably have better luck. Either way, after a time, my gaze dropped the the ground as I walked, and I suddenly didn't care if I was following him or not.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 24, 2009 23:34:45 GMT -5
We stopped as a trio of wagons made their way across an intersecting street and I glanced around. My heart stopped and the sweet caramel taste in my mouth turned sour as I recognized a woman on the street.
Lola
I realized too that it had been her in the store. All I could do was stare at her as my emotions went a thousand different ways. She was still trying to avoid me, or she wouldn’t have hidden in the store. But oh gods, my chest ached in that same way it had when I’d found out about her and Christien. I didn’t know what to do.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 24, 2009 23:40:28 GMT -5
As I walked, uncaring, unknowing of the world around me, I found myself having to stop for wagons and I looked up, glancing around to find that Shea was staring at me. I stopped dead, caught out, staring back at him with a bit of a shocked feeling and unsure what to do. He looked... I don't know, mad may be? I felt horrible, I felt horrible for trying to follow him, for being a sneak, a rat, I glanced around, trying to find a way out but every where I looked there was nothing but open streets, no place to hide. I rushed out into the street, bobbing between carriages as tears threatened on my lids, after narrowly missing a man barreling through the streets, I came out on the other side, running toward the palace.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 24, 2009 23:50:05 GMT -5
Before I could clear my head, she dashed into the street and I felt my heart freeze as she almost got hurt. Then she was running away, and my heart thawed enough to ache. I squeezed my eyes closed and took a shaky breathe. Opening them, I urged my mount forward, feeling broken and hurt and not at all myself.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 24, 2009 23:57:46 GMT -5
When I thought I was far enough away I stopped running, my hands clenched to my chest, my steps slowing. I wasn't sure what to think, what to say, surely if he had any interest in wanting to talk to me he would have, or he would come after me. Should he not, it would be an absolute sign that he indeed had no interest in me. I wanted badly to glance back at him, to see if he were following me, but I couldn't I was too afraid that he wouldn't be there, I didn't want to prove myself right.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 25, 2009 0:08:15 GMT -5
The quickest way to the palace was the one she’d taken, and I was too down to take a different route. My head hung forward a little and I stared at my mare’s mane, not wanting to let a bunch of strangers see the hurt on my face.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 25, 2009 0:16:35 GMT -5
I hugged my arms around my body, feeling cold as I walked, hearing the sound of a horses foot steps. I glanced over to see him near but not, his head hanging down. I couldn't understand why he looked so sad, surely it wasn't that he was sad, surely he was just trying to avoid looking at me because he was still angry with me. I turned my head forward, walking as I kept listening to the sounds of his horse, listening in case the sounds of hooves increased or changed.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 25, 2009 0:24:15 GMT -5
A gust of wind blew some leaves across my mare’s path and she skittered to the side. I took hold of the reins and brought her under control. When I looked up, there was Lola again.
“Lola,” I said before I knew what I was doing.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 25, 2009 0:33:11 GMT -5
He spoke my name and it made me stop, I froze, unsure what to say or do. Once again I was caught out, but unlike last time he was saying my name, and I couldn't deny or hide any more. "Uh... yes?" I asked, turning a little but not looking to him, fearing that he would tell me to leave him be, or tell me that he hated me.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 25, 2009 0:41:03 GMT -5
I started to say something, then stopped. Started again, and stopped once more. I closed my eyes for a moment.
“I’m sorry… I know you don’t want to see me,” I said, my head hanging again. “I’ll go.” I started to urge my mare on again, but hesitated. “I hope he’s treating you right, that he’s making you happy. He should be making sure you’re happy.” I pressed my knees to my mare and she walked on again.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 25, 2009 0:46:00 GMT -5
I was shocked at what he had to say. Me not want to see him?! "Wait!" I called out before I had time to think of what I was doing, my hand reaching out gently as if it would bid him to stay. But as soon as I had said it, I was lost in thought and unsure of myself. "I... I've been following you for days." I murmured, my eyes down cast, looking at him only through my lashes.
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 25, 2009 0:57:09 GMT -5
I stopped at her words, turning my head to look at her. My brow furrowed at her admission. “Why?” I asked.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 25, 2009 1:05:07 GMT -5
"Be...because." I said, still not meeting his gaze. "Because I had to see you, even if you didn't see me."
|
|
|
Post by Shea de Vermandois on Oct 25, 2009 1:12:53 GMT -5
“You told me to stay away from you, and I have. I will not be the reason you get sent back home, Lola,” I said. I shook my head. “I can’t do this. It hurts too much to see you and know that’s all I can do. I am not the type of person who can suffer gracefully. Goodbye Lola.”
I pressed my knees hard to my mare and she leapt forward, racing towards the palace.
|
|
Princess Lola de Somerville
Royal
Her Royal Highness, Princess de las Aragonia; Princess Consort of Gratien de Somerville, Comtesse d'Azur
Married to Prince Gratien de Somerville; Daughter of the Royal House of Aragonia. Comtesse d'Azur
Posts: 1,670
|
Post by Princess Lola de Somerville on Oct 25, 2009 1:17:33 GMT -5
His words struck me hard and my chest caved in. "Wait!" I near screamed as he bolted off toward the palace, tears spilling harsh over my lids as I cried. "Please!" I began to sob, my arms clenched against my chest. I collapsed onto my knees, uncaring as to whom saw me, or what they would say, my heart shattered into a thousand pieces and I felt like I was going to die.
|
|