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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Apr 6, 2011 11:37:22 GMT -5
Set 8 years prior to King Marcel and Queen Corettas coronation.
Six months I'd lived at home. Six months, and still everything felt so strange. Going from a home filled with people to one where there was naught but myself and the servants, everything felt.. empty, quiet. For weeks everything had been worse than it was now, but I'd found out that the maids and cooks had been trying to keep the children out of sight and silent, not knowing how I'd react, but that had gotten better almost immediately with my encouraging them to let the children play. I loved watching them, hearing their laughs and squeals, and even the occasional shout or burst of tears didn't bring anything out of me but concern. It helped fill the void, helped breathe life into the house again.
I remembered this place, where my mother and father had raised me til I was eight and a half, giving me over then only to the Sovereign duchy of Azzalle for care and chances I might otherwise never have gotten. I never begrudged my parents, but after their death when I was twelve, I missed them. It'd eased some after a while, but living here now, claiming my title and running the estate only made the ache for them come back fiercely. Nights were oddly a respite; I could close my eyes and pretend nothing had changed, that they were still sleeping soundly down the hall, that August and Sabriel were still the best of friends and nothing had happened with them, that everything was whole and intact. The mornings brought grief though, and with each passing day my resolve grew. I wouldn't spend my life regretting; I wanted to live.
First, though, I had to learn, to adjust. Most of the paperwork demanded of me today was done, set in a tidy pile at the side of my great oak desk. I stood, watching the flames dance in the low fireplace that warmed my study, wishing spring would hurry and advance. Distantly I heard the laughter of children again, ringing up the halls, and a small smile crept upon my mouth. Not everything would be horrible, not forever. Life moved on.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Apr 7, 2011 12:28:57 GMT -5
It felt like a long time since I had seen Mirielle. She had left far too long ago, or so it felt, though truly it was only half a year. Things had changed around the House... things had become different. The space between August and I was filled with an unbearably angering silence, and it only seemed to deepen and widen and fill with more silent rage, more bitter regret since Mirielle left. It was as though she had been the salve that covered the wound, made it bearable, but since she left.... it was not the same. She was like a sister to us, kind and knowledgeable beyond her years. And I could not help but wonder what it was like for her to be back in her real home, taking it over now instead of just being a child, running through its halls, playing in its front yard. I wondered how she was adapting to the change, and so with that in mind I decided to pay her a visit, unannounced.
I arrived in the middle of the day, not too early and certainly not too late, with daylight still shining upon my back as I rode my horse at a steady gallop until I reached her estate. I slowed him down, clicking my tongue and pulling up on the reins, letting a hand fall to his houlder, patting it tenderly.
"We're here," I murmured, more to myself than the beast underneath me as I slowed him to a stop and dimounted. His hooves clip-clopped up the drive, and a stable hand was there to meet me and take the reins of the horse. I mounted the front steps to her home and knocked three time swith the knocker, smoothing my hands over my breeches, dislodging as much dust as I could so I at least appeared to be kempt, even with the shadow of short hair darkening my chin and cheeks.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Apr 7, 2011 14:55:04 GMT -5
My fingers sufficiently warmed, I was walking back to my desk when a soft knock sounded on the door, and I called entrance as I paused, looking up curiously. A stoutly maid entered, bobbing a curtsy, wisps of grey hair fluttering from under the little brimless bonnet she used to keep it at bay. I smiled to her, but when she announced the arrival of high Highness, Prince Sabriel, I was.. Elua, I was shocked.
"Sabriel?" I gasped, then with a laugh, I hurried out the door 'round her, making my way down the hall and stairs with steps that cause my skirts to kick up over my ankles. It'd been months since I'd seen him, and I couldn't help the zeal I felt at it again. There he was, standing in my foyer, dust clinging to his clothes... and still managing for all the world to look like a god, lounging in leisure.
"Sabriel!" Delight shone out of me, and I laughed as I leapt up, catching him in a hug that had all affection and no propriety in it. I'd grown close to August during Sabriels absence, but I'd never lost my love for Sabriel through it, nothing would ever take that from me. Nothing ever could, and the same for my affection for August. "Elua, I've missed you," I said, beaming smiles over his shoulder.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Apr 7, 2011 15:31:12 GMT -5
A maid had answered the door, letting me in, and I stood, waiting for Mirielle. She had never judged me, even with all the hushed murmurs I brought with me at times. She had always been an unfailing friend.
I heard her before I saw her, quick steps getting louder and louder until she appeared with a bright smile and her skirts moving about her legs as quickly as her feet touched the floor, and even though I had heard her, her footfalls were still feather soft. I beamed, forgetting really all that had been on my mind. One might think that with the rumours that had clung to me, and my being sent away like some guilty scoundrel, people might not be so happy to see me. And when I had come back, many weren't, but Miri wasn't like them, and it was a breath of fresh air to see her beaming face, bright and cheery, and hear her voice say my name with such surprise and pleasure that I chuckled as I grabbed her up, lifting her clear off the floor as I swung her with the momentum she had gained from nigh pouncing on me. I chuckled harder for it, holding her to me like a child might its dearest toy, or even more its security blanket. It felt good to be welcome somewhere.
Finally, after a few turnjs about the foyer I brought her back to her feet, gently. With hands on her shoulders, I stood an arms length from her. "Ah, it may not have been terribly long since I have seen you but still, perhaps you've grown... maybe an inch? Something seems different, but that smile, it remains the same," I added, still grinning.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Apr 11, 2011 9:46:11 GMT -5
He twirled me, and I closed my eyes against the whirling room even as I laughed. So little had I felt elated these days; adjusting to living here alone after a constant warm family at the Trevalions along with the every day reminders of my parents deaths years ago had taken a toll on me. I was getting better now, but a visit from Sabriel had taken me by such surprise that I had lost every last ounce of propriety in my joy.
"Really? I'm not sure.. I think you may be shrinking in your old age," I tossed back at him, my eyes sparkling in an impish delight as I stood, looking at him. My hands were up, holding onto his wrists as he held my shoulders; looking at Sabriel was like looking at one of my older brothers, one who had seen too much, had suffered more than anyone deserved. I felt pity for him for all I wished not to judge either he or August, but was impossible for me not to feel sorry for both of them.
"Come, you must be parched," I said, my expression and demeanor delight as I took his hand and tugged him up the hallway with me. He was dusty and dirty from the ride, but he looked hale and healthy. "Do you prefer water, wine, juice, or mayhap something stronger?"
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Apr 11, 2011 9:56:11 GMT -5
I laughed at her jest, seeing pure joy and mirth shining in her eyes, her face glowing with it before I set her down and she took my hand, tugging me into her home and down the hallway. I was still chuckling when she asked me what I might drink.
"Ahh for this old man?" I teaed, raising a brow, "I would say water, but perhaps wine might be just as nice. It is good for us aging types, you know," I teased, lips smiling, baring glinting teeth. It was something wholly new to see Miri in her own home - she had been at home with us for so long, but even as we treated her as family and loved her a such, there was no getting around teh fact that she was not a Trevalion, and so had no stake. There would be no rivalry or ill feelings between us in regards to the estate, as there always would be with me and August. Still, she was the mistress of her own domain here, and I thought she would take to it well enough.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Apr 11, 2011 10:12:38 GMT -5
I laughed again, shaking my head at his jests. He seemed to be in a better mood than I would have expected, but I was glad to see it. "I don't know.. Mayhap I should have offered some tea with lots of honey instead," I added, flashing a grin at him. With him walking next to me, I let his hand go before folding my own before me as we walked. We headed just 'round the bend and into a room I preferred to the more uptight receiving room; this one had a low, rounded fireplace, and the wood was set in warm oaks with maroon and bistre fabrics accenting throughout. I preferred it; it was neither light nor dark, but truth be it was the unique fireplace that had always held my fancy for this particular room.
Moving to the bar, I selected a bottle of white and set about trying to open it. "What brings you out here today?" I asked, smiling kindly at him before looking back to the wine bottle again. It was sealed ridiculously tight, and I tugged at the corkscrew after inserting it; had Sabriel not been here, I'd have stuck it between my knees and tried it that way, but I couldn't bring myself to do anything near that even given our familiar backgrounds.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Apr 11, 2011 10:22:05 GMT -5
I walked beside her as she lead us into a room. It wa slovely, neither too large nor small. There was a fireplace, a rather nice one, and I walked in, seating myself while Miri went to the bar and worked at a bottle of wine. I noticed her struggling, but chuckled and shook my head.
"Well I thought that I would come and check in on you, of course, make sure you were not too overwhelmed with everything," I teased, "but truly," I said a warm smile on my face as I sighed softly, rising to my feet and walking to her to help her with the cork, "I guess it became a little.. lonely and tense back at the estate, what with my return and the tensions between me and August," I said, extending my hand as an offer to help her open the wine bottle. "So I have used coming to see if all is wel as a bit of an excuse to get away from it all. I hope that does not make me seem too terribly selfish."
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Apr 18, 2011 16:27:21 GMT -5
I laughed at his jests, but my expression and mood both turned sympathetic near instantly when he started talking about how difficult being at the estates were for him. I couldn't imagine, and while I wished I was there to help his family deal with everything, I knew too it wasn't my place. I was near enough to family to them, but I wasn't true family and they needed their own space, their own privacy to fix the wrongs.
Seeing Sabriel was a lovely thing though, and I welcomed him as much as I would have August or his mother. I missed them all so very deeply. "It does make you selfish," I grinned at him as I gave up on the wine and relinquished the bottle to him, seating it in his strong hand. "But that's quite alright with me, because I'm selfishly happy to see you."
My smile brightened before I turned, opening a cabinet behind us to retrieve two delicately stemmed glasses to pour the wine into. "Things aren't getting better between August and yourself, then?" I asked, a little quieter, peeking up at him as I set the glasses down and fiddled with a cloth napkin.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Apr 20, 2011 10:32:23 GMT -5
Her features softened, and I knwe that she did not look upon me with pity, but moreso with the understanding of a near-cousin. I knew it would sadden her to hear that things were still not made right between my brother and I. My fingers raised to stroke the scar on my cheek as if remembering all that had happened in our past and how it had turned our strength of brotherhood to naught. I dropped my hand though and laughed softly as she jested back before turning to procure a couple of glasses. I applied my manly strength to opening the bottle, a light sneer coming to my lips as I pulled the cork from the mouth of it.
"Aha, see wahtever would you do without me! If I were not around right now you'd still be fiddling with that bottle," I tased before pouring the wine into the glasses.
"Ahh, but no, nothing has changed, if anythign tensions have increased. It is obvious that he does not want me there, and that, in his mind, I am still at fault for what had happened. Even though I am not at fault," I said, pausing a moment to look at her, not that I needed to convince her, I knew she did not think me a scoundrel to have killed someone and not stand up and admit it if it were true, "he still believes that I am at fault at least for not saving her," I shook my head before putting the bottle down, "and of course that just stems to other facets - him fearing I will bring more shame upon teh family name, though he does not know.... he does not know how much I love our family, would do anything to keep it safe, and Azzallle," I murmured, "ahhh, but here I am rambling on," I said, smiling softly at Miri, "am I not here to find out how youare doing and how I might be at yoru service, aside from opening your wine bottles," I teased.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Apr 21, 2011 11:18:53 GMT -5
He opened it with barely needing to strain, and I wrinkled my nose a little at that; Elua, but how easy some things were for a man! It wasn't fair. I watched him in amusement as he poured the newly opened wine, filling it near level with each other in a rather impressive manner. The amusement faded with his words though, brought on by a subject that I had brought up myself.
My eyes went from the wine and to his face somberly as I listened, picturing it and trying not to. I still remembered the horridness of that day, remember the hurt and pain, the anger... Gods, it was vivid enough to strike in any dream I might have and turn it into a black nightmare.
He turned the tables on me then, giving me a gentle smile, though I could see the pain of everything still awash in his eyes. He was a good man, Sabriel, and August was too... Life had just not been fair to either. I let the subject of August drop though, not wishing to pick at a wound that was trying to heal up.
"I've been well, and things here have been.. Quiet," I finished, giving him a rueful smile. It was a little forced, but I tried again to push the anger and hurt between the brothers from my mind, to focus on the happiness of seeing Sabriel again, and seeing him happy. "After being used to your general loudness though, I suppose even a runaway carriage filled with cymbals would be quiet." Tease lanced my words like a sword, and I grinned at him, honest amusement returning to my eyes again.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Apr 21, 2011 13:18:22 GMT -5
The mood had gone somber, but within moments, she was laughing and I was smiling again, taking my glass as I looked about the room, still grinning.
"Oh how do you get by without it?!" I asked her, tasing. Truly, though it must be nice to be away from that sort of tension, at least fo rher, instead of feeling trapped in the middle, and not knowing where to turn. It really was no place for someone to be stuck, but she always carried herself well, regardless of the conflict rising in my family.
"I will just have to visit more often. Perhaps I will bring something large and metal to bang around, or a few bells, make it feel like home," I said. I hadn't caught myself to change my words. Home. This was her home now, and the realisation of it was both heartening as well as saddening. I as proudo fher of what she had accomplished and what I kne she would be capable of accomplishing in teh future, but it was no lie that she was missed, and I knew that she was not only mised by myself.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Apr 26, 2011 20:43:40 GMT -5
The mental image of Sabriel parading about with bells and jingles dangling from his limbs was enough to send me laughing again, and I hesitated in picking up my glass, one hand pressing to the flat of my stomach and the other to my mouth. My eyes danced in mirth and humor as I looked at him, and when I pulled my hand from my mouth again, my lips were still twitching with a grin that I was trying to suppress.
"What a lovely idea that is," I said, trying to sound aloof and slightly haughty while fighting another set of giggles. "I could have my very own court bard! What a generous offer, Sabriel."
Plucking my glass from the tabletop, I pressed my lips together and gave him a sweet smile before sipping at it. Elua, but I missed this.. I missed it so very much.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on May 3, 2011 13:49:12 GMT -5
"Is it not what every lady seeks?" I asked her, my tone taking on a serious lilt, though the mirth in my eyes and twitching at the corners of my mouth showed I was only jesting. I shook my head, following suit and taking a sip of the wine from my glass, feeling the cool liquid course down my throat and start to unravel some of the knots in my mind - though hearing Miri's laughter and just being away from that house was enough to start the process. In truth, I could hide out here, though I knew such woul dnever happen. I could hardly even suggest it to put sucha strain on her after all she'd been through and was now taking on in her life. I knew it would be inevitable to return but at least I was ehre and we were laughing and making merry right now. That was all that mattered.
"Ah Miri, wouldn't it be splendid to return to the childhood days of nicked knees and mudpies, and hide and seek, and laughing at our tutors behind their backs," I chuckled. But she had grown into a fine young woman, a beautiful one too, though I had never looked at her truly in any other light than as a sister or relative. I suppose I was blind to it before, but now, with laughter in her eyes and a smile that shone like the sun, I wondered how I was so blind to it before.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on May 4, 2011 12:04:12 GMT -5
I smiled as I watched him sip at his wine, but inwardly I fretted, worried for him, for August, for their parents. I wanted to comfort them all but was utterly lost on how to; it seemed no matter what I would only be in the way. The fight over Annabel was a horrid one, a day I wanted to forget, and it seemed no matter what things weren't going to be getting any better. No amount of time had soothed the wounds, only made them scab over, never healing properly.
I wanted to hug him. I wanted to tell him it'd be alright, just like I wanted to hug August and tell him the same. The problem was that it didn't matter what I did, or said; it only mattered what the two of them did and thought. I raised my glass to my lips and drank, worry clouding my eyes, and I tried to hide them too by averting my gaze to the low fire flickering in its hearth.
"If only life were simple," I said, glancing up at him with an affectionate smile. "I know I'd love to turn life back too. But, I suppose there's not much that can be done for it. And right now you're stuck with me," I added, hoping to lighten the mood again. My smile flashed instantly into a grin, and I took another drink of my wine, my eyes full of amusement and impishness as I looked at him over the rim of my glass.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on May 4, 2011 13:54:03 GMT -5
Her words were true. There was naught that I could do for teh past. I knew the truth, I knew what happened, and if my family refused to stand behind me, or would rather punish me for the sake of keeping things quiet, mmaking me seem ever the more guilty, then fine. I would just have to take it as a man and move on. Perhaps ... perhaps I would just leave for good.
I was pulled from my revelry with Miri's bright voice and playful smile and I had to laugh.
"Oh woe is me, whatever shall I do," I teased. "So how shall we be entertained, madame hostess? A game of cards, or a walk around the garden, or perhaps some tea?" I queried, taking a sip from my wine glass, pinky finger extended in jest.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on May 9, 2011 20:12:29 GMT -5
He teased me, flippant, even going so far as to poke his pinky out as he raised his glass to his lips. I'd watched he and August enough growing up, had been privy to enough of their antics before life had pulled them apart, to have a good idea what to do with the impishness in me. My eyes sparkled with playful devilishness as he sipped from his cup, and quicker than thought, I reached my hand out, placing the tips of two of my fingers against the bottom of his glass, and tipped it up a little more, forcing him to gulp more or have it spill down over his chin.
I didn't answer him right away, but gave a laugh as I moved to snatch my hand back and away out of arms length, as long as his arms were. "Oh, poor darling, you must be absolutely parched from your long ride! Would you like more wine?" My eyes sparkled further, and my grin grew as I picked up the bottle of wine as if I were going to pour for him.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on May 14, 2011 9:32:38 GMT -5
Quicker than I even could recognize Miri reached forward, tipping my glass. I gulped down the wine, coughing slightly as I did, mostly from laughter, though I had to admit her action was slightly unexpected, but wholly welcomed. I pulled the glass from my lips laughing as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, clearing my throat as I looked at her, shaking my head.
"Why yes, yes I was, but you seem to have done a fairly good job of fixing that hmm?" I mused, making a sudden move forward to go after her as she grabbed the bottle to pour. "I suppose another glass couldn't do any harm," I teased.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on May 18, 2011 12:03:18 GMT -5
He drank as fast as he could and laughed after, and I laughed as well as I tilted the wine bottle towards him. When he moved to go after me, I squeaked through my laughter and attempted to dance away from him, the wine bottle clutched in my hand and held aloft to try to keep it from sloshing out. "Sabriel!" I exclaimed as I tried to evade his grasp, laughter and delight both rolling through me.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on May 18, 2011 12:44:54 GMT -5
I laughed along with her, almost too loud for propriety, really, but it felt good to laugh again, to truly laugh and feel happy, even as I chased her about and teased her. It was good to feel liked, for once.
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