One More: Fredric & Sophie

[Fredric nó Benoit]

{Late Mid-Spring; just after the death of Sabrina}

I had left the palace with my heart and mind battling two thoughts. One was that I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing, the other of course was that it was the absolute best thing to do. I felt a sense of love and companionship for Coretta but I couldn't reconcile how that made me feel with my vows to protect and serve her as her Cassiline. I worried about how my thoughts and actions affected her and her future marriage and knew that if I were to stay I'd probably end up hurting her and myself in the long run. Her betrothal to Him was not the marriage I had forseen in my mind; one where her husband was old and cruel and she would come to me to console her when he had upset her. That wasn't going to happen, not with the man she had chosen. So I knew anything I did from that point on would be a waste of both our energies. I simply couldn't have her and that was that. So I had myself reassigned in hopes that my next ward would not evoke the same feelings. I returned to the countryside to wait for new orders and once again took up a solitary life as I regained my footing on who I was.

Then a few weeks later news came that the Queen had been murdered, poisoned, and Prince Christien too ill to take on any sort of duties leaving Coretta as the head of her family. I wanted so badly to run to her and be there for her, but I knew too well that those actions would not be met kindly. I knew that my thoughts had more to do with what I wanted, wanting to see her again, wanting to comfort her, then actually helping. Besides, she had Him after all.

It wasn't more then a few days afterward that my Prefect sent for me; Prince Ghislain de Trevalion, having feared that other attempts would me made on the lives of members of the royal family, made the decision to add a Cassiline to his house hold to watch over his sisters. Seemed the Queen's death sparked the same fear in others as many of my Brothers in arms began to get scattered across the City and country, taking up positions in the houses of nobility. Having heard that I myself had watched over the Dauphine, sent for me personally to ward over, in particular, his sister Sophie. I was aware of another sister within the house but there was also some talk of a second Cassiline for her in particular. Never the less I packed my things and headed back tot he City to ward another Princess.

I arrived mid afternoon, the house was quiet and Prince Ghislain greeted me first. We spoke at length of his fears and his expections, then of his sisters and how their personalities were vastly different. He seemed like a nice man, if not a little quiet and meek perhaps, but kind and a loving sibling. After which he gave me a tour of the house, showed me the quarters where I would be sleeping and then took me to the library to meet with his sister Sophie. I entered in behind him in my familiar grey attire with my daggers, sword and vambrances in their usual places, then waited to be introduced to the Princess, eager to focus on something other then my heart.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

Ghislain came by the kitchen in the afternoon to tell me that there was someone he wished me to meet. I followed him to the front sitting room and walked in to find a Casseline sitting on my settee. It took one look at the set of my brother's eyes and my lips thinned. "Please excuse us," I said to the as-of-yet unnamed man, and dragged my brother back out into the hall.

"Absolutely not," I started in before the door could fully close behind my brother. I continued on for a few minutes, and Ghislain let me run out before explaining his reasoning. I might have started to pout, but it would have been immature. He had a point, the City was clearly not safe for members of the royal family. But Azza, I did not want a grey shadow.

I didn't go back in there though without making my opinion clear by banishing Ghislain. I would meet this Fredric fellow on my own terms. Or as close to my own terms as I could manage. "I'm terribly sorry about that," I said as I returned to the sitting room. "I'm Sophie de Trevalion, as I'm sure my brother mentioned."

[Fredric nó Benoit]

I had been sitting with Ghislain as we waited for his sister arrive. When she did I rose, her eyes flashing quickly to me before she spoke to her brother and ushered him out of the room.

They weren't gone long and I could hear the short conversation they held, her words full of fire, before only Sophie returned to the room. My eyes went to her and studied her quickly before offering a Cassiline bow. She was attractive, fair with soft lips and dynamic features, but she was no Coretta, a thought I forced out of my head. There was also some familiar about her and it occured to me that I had seen her before at the last public outing I had attended as Coretta's protector.

"Its quite alright." I replied. "I wasn't aware that he hadn't spoken to you about having a Cassiline." I added.
"I'm Fredric no Benoit. Its a pleasure to meet you Sophie."

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"My dearest brother probably wished to avoid the conversation we just had," I said with a thin smile. I still wasn't pleased about the situation, but I also knew that the man in front of me wasn't to blame. He was just following orders.

"It's nice to meet you too Fredric. Please, sit. Let's have a little chat," I said, settling into one of the chairs across from him. I wanted to get to know him a little, know who I was dealing with. Something niggled at the back of my mind as I studied his features, almost as if I had seen him before. "Have we met before?"

[Fredric nó Benoit]

I nodded a little in understanding and sat at her beckoning. I did not have siblings and though I could sympathize with having a shaddow I was also biased in feeling that safety was more important then comfort.

"Ah yes I believe we briefly met at the fete for your cousins. At the time I was..." I cleared my throat momentarily at the emotions evoked by memories of Coretta.
"I was the Cassiline for her Highness Princess Coretta de la Courcel." I explained. She had obviously recognized me as I had recognized her and I smiled politely at the fact. So far I could tell that Sophie would be quite different then...then my last ward. She carried herself differently and even spoke differently, she was obviously not as young as my last ward and it made me wonder what would be in store with her.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

His voice caught at the mention of the Dauphine, and it was no wonder. For a Casseline's ward, former or not, to be put in that kind of danger... it was understandable that he was upset.

"Oh yes, of course. Why were you reassigned?" I felt awful for asking, his devotion to Coretta clear. But I had to be sure that he was here for the right reasons, and would protect me as my brother so desperately wanted.

[Fredric nó Benoit]

Because I fell in love with her? Though of course I couldn't say that. But what would I say, I hadn't really thought about what I would say should some one ask let alone a ward.
"Well with her impending marriage she felt that her betrothed was the most protection she would need." It was a complete lie and I felt horrible about doing it but I didn't want to admit what had passed between Coretta and I for both our sakes. Coretta didn't need people finding out about what she and I had done and I needed this ward to get over my feelings.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I nodded, the explanation more than plausible. Everyone knew how... spirited the Dauphine was.

"Alright, here are my rules. I'm sure you have your own, and I'll here them in a minute. The first is that there are certain times when you will have to wait outside rooms. Most of my patients don't know my status, and I plan to keep it that way. None of these men have hurt me before, and so I won't require your presence when I'm visiting them. The second is when I am spending time with gentlemen callers. I think it's fair to say that neither of us needs you to know that much about me," I said with a raised brow. "Apart from that, I spend most of my time running this house, so your job will be fairly boring I'm sure. The last things I should mention is that I've bowed to my brother's wishes, but I'm not happy about it. I promise, I'll try not to take it out on you. But I imagine some days will be easier than others."

[Fredric nó Benoit]

As she spoke I felt that familiar flare of aggitation inside me and I was suddenly aware that Sophie might be just like my other wards despite any differences that she had.
"With all due respect your Highness but I'm not just some antiquated acessory. There is a reason Cassilines are called grey shadows and there is a very good reason for your brother to fear for your safety, if there wasn't then the Brotherhood wouldn't have sent me." Strange as it was it felt good to feel like myself again instead of the cuckolded fool I had been.

"I am here to make sure you're protected Princess and frankly I don't care what you think of me or how you treat me. Its not my job to be your friend or make you happy, my job is to be sure you're taken care of. Take out your frustrations on me if that is your will but at the end of the day I will do my job as I was trained." I could feel the strength returning to me and though my words were strong my voice was low and calm as was practiced over the years of trainning I had.

"As for your personal life I have no issues about standing outside your door and if that is a problem for you then I suggest you get used to it. I don't really care whom you bed and I have no judgements about it either. I can oblige when needed especially with your patients and I have no desire to upset your work I'll be happy to keep my distance and watch you from afar. I've done it before and I'll likely do it again. But what I am is what I am and that is the person here to save your life should any situations arise." I took a breath as my gaze held hers steady and serious but not in a forboding fashion.
"Bottom line is that I was hired by your brother and it is his rules that I will follow. Your rules will only matter to me if they don't get in the way of your saftey."

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I sat there and listened to Fredric's lecture, seeing that he obviously felt he needed to talk down at me. I had hoped that he would get it out of his system and then we might move on. I sat there and listened until he mentioned Ghislain's rules. And with that, my would-be protector crossed the line.

"You see Fredric, that's where you're wrong. You can either protect me, or my brother's interests. You cannot do both, for I refuse to let Ghislain control any more of my life than he already does," I said sweetly, a little smile on my face. "If you are here to protect me, I will learn to live with your presence. If you are here to keep tabs on me for my brother, or to follow his wishes above mine in any way, then I'll have to ask you to leave. My requests are not unreasonable, as you have already admitted. So you can either play by my rules, or you can get out. I will not have a conflicted Casseline at my back." I was still smiling, but there was no mistaking the steel in my voice. On this point, I would not back down. Ghislain might have saddled me with this man, but it wouldn't go any further than that.

[Fredric nó Benoit]

I listened to her reply and knew my first impression of her was not so right on, I scooted forward on my seat and leaned forward.

"Forgive me princess but you have no idea what my job entails nor how many of your 'rules' stop me from doing my job. I have no interest in controling you or any interest in what your brother thinks about your life other then the fact he has given me leave to be your Cassiline and do my job. I already said I would oblige and keep my distance so that you can do your job so how about you let me do the same. May be you're up tight about what your brother thinks about your life but I won't back down, and as long as there is a risk on your life I will be on you like I was a piece of clothing." I sat back a little but still held her gaze.

"I'm sure you're used to getting your way and obviously you think that by smiling pretty and acting as though there is no danger it will keep you safe, but I'm sure the Queen felt the same way." I leaned forward a little again and looked seriously at her.

"You can throw ultimatiums at me all you wish your Highness but would you rather have your pride or your life." I continued to stare at her, unbending to her cold stare and her put on smile. I stared at her for a long moment my eyes never wavering.
"As much as I work for your brother I work for Cassiel first and he demands that I am by your side." My voice was soft but it was sincere at least, it wasn't a game to me and I was more concerned over her safety then what her brother wanted. He was just the means to an end so to speak.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I continued to smile, though this time it was because his assumptions were rather assuming. He had no idea how much like a pompous ass he sounded. But that was alright, sometimes pompous asses had their uses. "Clearly you've never dealt with a child of Azza, if you think the choice between pride and life is necessarily an easy one. And clearly you haven't listened to a thing I've said. I have no issue with you being a... piece of clothing. I won't even tease you about using such a ridiculous metaphor."

"And if you'd rather I scream at you instead of smile, please let me know. But I've found that temper-tantrums generally reduce effective communication. I am a reasonable individual, if you would stop assuming that I am Coretta." I was a Trevalion. He was a fool to think I was unintelligent, or easily intimidated. "Now, let me reiterate. I do not take issue with your first duty being to Cassiel. In fact, it's a rather good thing. My concern is that your second duty is to my brother. If you are to be my Casseline, then you will be my Casseline, not my brother's employee. The choice is very simple Fredric. Your second duty is to me, or you go back to your Prefect and have him send me someone willing to respect his ward." Maybe the difference to him was minor, but it made the world of difference to me. It wouldn't matter how sincere Fredric was if he was my brother's puppet.