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Post by Talenon Shahrizai on Feb 6, 2011 11:03:37 GMT -5
The man introduced the two of them, husband and wife it seemed, and while I might not always be the friendliest person around, neither was I as taciturn as he. I gave the woman a small smile, though in truth, she seemed entirely too happy to be at a memorial, and made my own introductions.
"I am Talenon Shahrizai, and this is Sirena." I didn't have to add that she was also a Shahrizai, for it was rather obvious. I gave this Erie another look, a longer one, but I did not recognize him. That wasn't surprising, really. Our family was prolific, and I was rather introverted at times. I left it to Rena to make friends.
"Yes, it is terrible," I responded, though I did not feel much about the Queen either way. "Most especially to happen to someone so young, and so suddenly, as well." I glanced over at Rena, unable to imagine how I would react if something like that happened to her. I suppressed a shudder, knowing that I would never survive it.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Feb 6, 2011 12:04:13 GMT -5
There was a sense of quietness to this pair of cousins, though not exactly sorrow. Anxiousness maybe, and disinterest. Sad, sad, but they must be left to make their own choices. I sorrowed for our dead Queen though I'd never met her because she would no longer have a life to choose which realm of death she'd prefer or any lovers to meet there. Poor, poor Queen Sabrina, friend to sweet cousin Gabriel who so enjoyed his courtly games. I couldn't spare too much sorrow for her though, perhaps the ancestors in the land beyond would give her a suitable homecoming.
While I considered and let the small funeral dirge lead my thoughts I heard Talenon make the introductions, then drew my attention back to the introductions. The girl smiled in affection before she realized where she was, Talenon was making pretty conversation with her and Erie was distinctly cranky. Silly people. My hand petted Tal's arm lightly as I considered the other two, my eyes swirling and a faint, decorous and somewhat distracted smile on my face. These two. The man was simple enough, his soul as plain as his words. Sophine though- there was a haze, a linger of a thought of an idea. This was interesting.
"It's more terrible that we may never know what caused this," I said in a quietly audible tone, pushing some hair back behind my ear. "She was strong of will but weaker of spirit, so I hope Kushiel is kinder to her than most who need to atone." The steady voice in my mind assured me that it would be so and I smiled just slightly before I looked back at Sophine and heard it get a bit louder. You should ask her about things, maybe later. I'm not sure why they wanted me to, but they did, and with that fatherly voice I couldn't just disobey. "It's a pleasure to meet you two though. Perhaps after the grieving is done we should find a meal together? I've always wanted to speak to somewhat of traveling."
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Post by Yves Chevalier on Feb 6, 2011 12:14:23 GMT -5
"The City is difficult to get into or out of at the moment," I said, by way of explaining the postal system. I did not like that she was alone, however, though I wasn't sure what I could do about it. Perhaps I could scrape together a guard detail to watch over her. Quietly, of course. I made no mention of it as she asked about the girls, my favorite subject.
"Ah, they are well. I have explained the news to them as well as I can, but I fear they are as yet too young to understand it. Perhaps that is best, that they have their innocence awhile longer yet. Claire especially, Julia is getting to the age to ask too many questions." I smiled and shook my head. "They keep me on my toes, that's for sure."
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Feb 6, 2011 15:59:30 GMT -5
"Well, I think part of the reason for events like this is so that people can share their grief, if they wish," I said softly, leaning in close so that our voices would not disturb those around us who were quietly talking in clusters. "After all, we are all grieving the same thing, the same person, if to different extents. I more or less missed her rule, myself, but she was still my Queen, for instance. But there are those who dealt with her every day, or were touched by her in direct and meaningful ways who are, of course, far more devastated," I explained, giving a slight shrug as I spoke.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Feb 6, 2011 16:21:28 GMT -5
I looked up at him as he spoke, nodding in agreement. "I suppose you have a point," I whispered. "I simply wouldn't know what to say to her if I saw her. Words seem sort of hollow now." I shrugged back to him, content to simply be near him. I didn't want to go digging through the crowd or start searching it from where I was. I came here to pay my respects with Leon, and didn't really care if I saw anyone I knew or not.
I felt like an outsider-- which I was, of course. This was all foreign to me. Or, I supposed, I was all foreign, in this case. Standing silently, close to Leon's arm, I squeezed his hand affectionately. I didn't think he was very broken up about the untimely death of the Queen, but all the same, I was there to support him should he need it.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Feb 6, 2011 16:37:46 GMT -5
I was saddened by her death, particularly once I'd gotten the whole story. But I knew there were others in the city, and the realm as a whole, whose grief was far deeper than my own. Feeling Fion squeeze my hand, I smiled at her tenderly, gratefully, and returned the gesture.
My sapphire eyes then did another sweep of the temple at that point, once again looking for the few people I might recognize. They might have gone to the memorial and left by that time, but I did not want to snub any of the handful of contacts that I'd actually made so far.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Feb 6, 2011 16:48:26 GMT -5
I saw him searching the area, probably looking around to see if there was anyone he knew. "See anyone familiar?" I asked him quietly. I recognized no one when I looked around but then, as short as I was, I couldn't see much. What was I supposed to do, look for familiar shoulders? I snorted inaudibly.
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Post by Queen Coretta de la Courcel on Feb 6, 2011 18:16:17 GMT -5
The funeral finished, all I wanted to do was go back to Christiens side, to curl up on his sickbed and read him stories, to nap, to recall memories.. anything I could think of that would bring him out of his coma, but I knew my duties to the country came first. Against the better judgement of my advisors, I didn't return to the relative safety of the Palace but instead came to the Memorial, determined to show I wasn't afraid.. even if I really was.
My tears were dried and my face was no longer red; the carriage ride from the funeral was both one of the longest and shortest of my life. Marcel sat next to me and Bryanna across; I'd have held both their hands if I'd been able to. When the carriage rolled to a halt and we stepped out, I removed my hat and went into the Memorial with my face bare and open, not allowing my guard to fan out ahead of me but remain behind. I wanted to be seen, I wanted the citizens of the City and country both to know that I wasn't in hiding, that I hadn't abandoned them. My arm in Marcels, I made my way forward, meeting eyes around me and returning curtsies with small nods of my head, actually looking at them, seeing them.
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Post by Sophine Shahrizai de Amodour on Feb 6, 2011 19:03:27 GMT -5
Once the introductions were made, my attention was drawn by the man's companion, Sirena. There was something about her, something ethereal, and when she spoke her voice sounded like music.
But when she mentioned traveling, I felt a chill run down my spine. She couldn't possibly... no, it must be some sort of coincidence, though it didn't feel like it. I couldn't stop looking at her, searching those familiar blue eyes, until I remembered the Shahrizai talent of seeing the faultlines of one's soul, and then I dropped my gaze quickly. It wasn't that I was full of faults, but that I was full of other things: secret desires and passions that I saved for Erie, but that I knew another one of his ilk could easily pick out of me. I'd discovered as much during our trip to Kusheth, and it was rather disconcerting.
"Er... yes, we should get together ... perhaps this week..." Perhaps I should be more cautious, but this woman intrigued me, with her otherworldly eyes and nearly prophetic words. I felt Erie stiffen slightly behind me, but I pretended not to notice. I knew he was not one for guests and such, but at the same time, if he was going to be married to me, he would have to get used to being sociable.
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Post by Sirena Shahrizai on Feb 6, 2011 19:37:39 GMT -5
I could read fear in this girl, and curiosity, and that made the voices all chime in with their own opinions for a moment. New, they said. Young in some ways. Secrets and telling and things she is unsure of. It made for a song of melodic confusion tinged with loss and anxiety like the sharp tap of a blade on a tabletop. As her eyes searched mine I smiled pleasantly and let her continue to look, to see what she could see in their depths. I wasn't interested in her passions, that darkness was not what called to me. She had her husband, her lover, and it was a sweet match to one such as I. But there was more there too, the taste of the sea in her thoughts and family blood in her mind. She didn't want to have any sins or regrets and that was what put those things there.
As her eyes moved away my posture changed not at all though my smile widened a bit in understanding and I nodded as the chime-like voice rang through the others and my hand on Tal's arm tightened just slightly- not in fear or anger but simply for balance amidst the swimming song in my mind. It didn't like cutting through the grieving for one of Elua's kin but some things were more important than things already come and gone, so it spoke and I listened. Sweet Sophine was a road to somewhere with an important question at the end and I was curious as well. Outside of this place that voice would have more to say, it promised. I liked this voice, he was like Tal.
"Yes, I think that would be a good idea," I agreed readily a bare moment after she spoke, my tone cheerful and bright as though I spoke of nothing but pleasantries. "But I do hope it's sooner rather than later. There is so much that can change in a week, or a day, or even a hour. The world is an unsteady place at times, especially when we're trying to think of parts that we can't see. The ocean itself is a variable in it too. Would you like to visit my home for this meeting or shall we go somewhere else?" It seemed that my cousin Erie wasn't the social sort. Silly men.
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Post by Queen Coretta de la Courcel on Feb 7, 2011 9:52:46 GMT -5
Thread locked.
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