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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 16, 2010 21:59:17 GMT -5
11th week of winter, Year 2 of Queen Sabrina's reign
Part 1 - JoyI had two very important errands to run today, exactly one week before the wedding. First was my final fitting for my wedding gown. The staff at the Masion de Fournie were always brilliant - they had to be or no one would pay their ridiculous fees. But I wanted it perfect, and so it was. Jareth will have to pick his jaw up off the floor, I thought to myself with satisfaction, smoothing the fabric over my stomach. Simple, elegant, and yet absolutely breathtaking. I could picture everything so clearly. Soleil in her red gown, svelte now after her pregnancy. My veil covering my hair, the red and white bouquet held lightly in my hands with silver ribbons trailing to the floor... I was still daydreaming as I made my way over to my second appointment, though I came back to earth as I walked into the chirgueon's office. I hadn't been feeling well the last few weeks, experiencing a lingering nausea. I hadn't dared to hope until... "There is no way to tell for certain at such an early stage. But in my opinion, you're pregnant. Congratulations..." The man's voice faded out as his words hit me. I held up my hand to stop him from talking anymore, knowing I wasn't going to hear another word of what he was saying. "Write it down, whatever tips you're about to give me. Please. I need to get home and tell Jareth. Gods, really?" He chuckled and nodded. "Oh, I could kiss you. Thank you. I'll be back to see you soon, I just have to..." "It's alright, I understand. Go tell your man," he said with an understanding smile. I hopped up, kissed the chirgeon's cheek and headed home.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Aug 16, 2010 23:57:26 GMT -5
Part 2 - Grief
"Jareth?" I called as I breezed in the front door, my spirits higher than they had ever been. "Darling, I need to talk to you!" No one answered, and I noticed that the house was strangely quiet. My brow furrowed, and I headed upstairs. I was intercepted halfway up by a maid, one of the new ones. "Where is my fiance?"
She bit her lip, looking like she didn't know how to answer. "We sent Gerard looking for you my lady. Did he not find you?" I shook my head, and she looked stricken. "My lord... had an accident."
The world swayed for a moment, and I clutched at the railing to keep myself upright. Pull it together Ana, you don't know how bad it is yet. "Where is he?" I demanded, and she pointed to a closed door. I nodded and marched up, entering the room without pause.
I was not ready for what met me.
***
I hadn't realized that I had fainted until the scent of smelling salts assailed me. "Get that gods-awful stuff away from me," I croaked, opening my eyes. Then I closed them again tightly, remembering why I had passed out in the first place.
He's gone.
It had only taken a single glance to take it all in. A white sheet, stained red where his wounds had seeped even after he had passed, pulled back to show his perfect face unmarred. No, it wasn't perfect anymore. It was lifeless, pale, still. He would never smile at me again, his eyes would never sparkle with mischief before he rolled us over and pinned me to the bed. Laughter would never again leave his throat. Tears trickled down my cheeks as grief hit me like a wave. Hit me, sucked me under, and pulled me out to sea.
I had a boar to blame for his death, an animal now slain by the Queen's men. He had been out hunting for the morning, keeping himself occupied while I went to my gown fitting. While I stood in front of a mirror, tusks had ripped into him. While I was learning of my pregnancy, he was bleeding to death. Never had I experienced the coin of pain and pleasure flip so wrenchingly. Kusheth, how could you be so cruel? How could you take my Jareth away? What could I have ever done to deserve this? I loved him.
"Oh gods I loved him," I sobbed, letting my servants pull me from the room where my love lay cold. "I loved him, and I was going to spend the rest of my life with him. And we were going to have children, and grow old together, and keep laughing. He always made me laugh..." Words kept pouring out of me, babble that was meaningless now. But still I had to say them, had to do something as I was bundled away to sob in private.
In the end, it was Jareth that saved me. I don't know what would have happened if Jareth's seed hadn't taken root in me, if I hadn't visited the chirgueon that morning. Curled up in a lethargic ball and refuse all foods, probably. I still didn't want to eat, but the knowledge of my pregnancy forced responsibility from my grudging mind. All I wanted to do was to feel sorry for myself, to wallow in the sudden and massive grief. And I allowed myself that until the next morning, curling up around my womb, the most precious thing in the world, and balling my eyes out.
The next morning, I forced myself to get up. I called for a bath, and some food. I didn't even throw anything at the servants. I could tell that my forced calmness frightened them even more, but I couldn't waste time on broken crystal. I had a funeral to arrange, and Jareth's child to look after. Nothing was more important than the babe, not anymore. If that meant taking care of myself when I wanted to die, then I would. And while I was at it, I would give the love of my life an honourable send-off.
My wedding would now be his funeral.
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Aug 17, 2010 22:01:23 GMT -5
Alora Part 1 - JoyI had decided to go to my last gown fitting for the wedding. Uncle had apparently gotten up earlier and gone hunting, I learned from one of the servants while I broke my fast. I thought little of it since he probably wanted some free time since he was due to be married in a relatively short time. Once I finished with my meal, I had the carriage readied and I used that time to ready myself to leave. I requested to be taken to the salon where I had my dress on order. I knew that with the wedding being so close, Ana would be having her last fitting as well, though I made sure that I would be there after she was. I figured it'd be less confusion if I did that than be there when she was. I was actually looking forward to the wedding. Seeing Uncle so happy with Ana I was looking forward to actually being a family with them. Granted they would want children of their own some day, and I won't begrudge them that. I had a small hope they wouldn't have them so soon. Having lived with Uncle for some years now, I knew he wasn't one for all out glamor, and I think some of it had rubbed off on me since I had chosen a simple enough dress. When the fitting was finished, I requested the finished dress be delivered to Uncle's city home and left. I had decided to head for the Artist's District of the Business sector, hoping to find something suitable for a wedding gift. There, I climbed out of the carriage and instructed the driver to find a place to stay for a bit and set off on foot. After searching store after store, I finally managed to find something I thought both Uncle and Ana would enjoy. The carriage ride home was enjoyable only masked by the winter coolness of the day. I had spent my childhood in the mountains of Camlach, and learned to deal with the cold. Of course, the winters in Camlach were colder due to the mountains, but in the City, one had to deal with all the slush and sludge from the carriages and foot traffic; human and horse alike. I counted myself grateful for being in a carriage and not walking home.
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Post by Alora d'Aiglemort on Aug 18, 2010 12:13:41 GMT -5
Alora part 2 -- grief
I walked into the house that Uncle and I shared, though it was empty except for the staff. With him off hunting, and going to Ana's place afterward, I had plenty of time to wrap the gift I had gotten. But before I could even take a step towards my chamber, one of the servants approached me. It was one of the new members, who was still kind of shy around myself and Uncle.
"What is it, Mary?"
"We...we just received word from Duchess Shahrizai's household. There...there has been an accident concerning your Uncle, Duc D'Aiglemort. I...It seemed like he was attacked by a boar."
My breath caught in my throat and tears instantly began welling up in my eyes. No, that can't be possible. He was suppose to be getting married soon, oh so very soon I could have tasted the food at the fête afterward.
"We also received word that the Queen's men had killed the boar," Mary added.
I gave my best glare with tears forming, and the urge to cry was close to being overwhelming. "I want the tusks of that boar."
Mary nodded and left to have my request done. When she disappeared, I steeled myself the best I could and walked through the house, trying not to show any weakness on the way to my room. I wasn't ready to become Duchess. But a boar had decided that I was. I had to find the strength to continue on. Not only for myself and what had been thrust upon me, but for Ana as well.
After I cried my heart out, it felt like there was a weight there. But I had to get up and tend to details of the house. Gods knew that Ana would have taken this news as hard as I did, mayhap even worse. I went to Uncle's study and looked around to find the right place for the tusks I had requested.
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