Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jun 17, 2011 21:53:01 GMT -5
"You know you don't have to stand on ceremony with me Landis," I told him with a smile. I settled on one side of blanket, arranging my riding skirts so that they wouldn't wrinkle. "This all looks delicious," I commented as I arranged the plates for the two of us.
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Jun 18, 2011 10:40:52 GMT -5
"No, but I thought it might be fun for a moment or two," I replied with a chuckle, then sat on the blanket near her while being careful not to disturb the various thing that were set out. "And thank you. I tried to remember what you liked from when you were staying at my estate all of those years ago. Hopefully I got everything right." That had been so many years that there were some details that were a little fuzzy- but many more that were far from that.
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jun 19, 2011 15:46:10 GMT -5
I still hated to eat in front of others, that hadn't changed. But I had enough other problems right now that I simply put some food on my plate and told myself to get over it. Landis had never mocked me for my eating habits, even after that time I had spilled apple cobbler down my front. "Thank you, that was very thoughtful," I told him with a smile.
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Jun 20, 2011 14:13:24 GMT -5
Picking up a piece of bread I bit off a piece of it, careful not to look at Mercy too much as she ate as well, then swallowing before I gave her a quick glance and a smile. "I guess it's just what comes naturally to me," I replied somewhat ruefully, then picked up one of the tin cups that was filled with cider and took a sip. "How much do you remember of when you were in Siovale before?"
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jun 21, 2011 17:58:21 GMT -5
"You mean my one great adventure? Those memories kept my spirits up through more than one miserable winter," I said with a soft smile. Talking was good, it distracted me from eating.
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Jun 21, 2011 18:11:32 GMT -5
"Well, I'm sorry to hear about the miserable winters," I said with a slight chuckle, then took a slice of meat and rolled it up before taking a bite, chewing and swallowing. "But I remember it too. Sometimes it's hard to believe I was that young once. I wasn't irresponsible back then but it was easier to forget everything I had to be responsible for. You, though, look like you've barely aged at all."
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jun 27, 2011 23:57:46 GMT -5
I blushed and looked down. "You flatter me, that was years ago. Years, and much experience," I said, thinking of my two princes, Walid and Sergei. I shook my head. "Though perhaps I haven't grown that old. I'm still clinging to my childhood ideals that women deserve to be heard."
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Jun 28, 2011 8:46:45 GMT -5
"It's not flattery as far as I can tell, only what I see," I told her with a grin, then heard her next sentence and sighed while reaching out and resting my hand lightly on hers. "And you know I agree with you there, even if it doesn't matter because I'm not a woman myself. If you have something to say then you should say it, though I can't promise everyone will listen. I will though, and you know that."
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jun 29, 2011 13:05:29 GMT -5
"I do. You're a good person Landis. And a good friend, with good advice," I added with a smile. His hand on mine was both comforting, and pleasant. Perhaps more pleasant than it should have been, but that had always been the way between us.
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Jun 30, 2011 13:48:57 GMT -5
Her words were almost as wonderful as her smile and I returned it, picking up her hand on impulse and kissing the back. "Just as long as you know," I told her in a low tone, stroking my thumb along her palm before grinning a bit more widely and loosening my grip. Her friendship was one of the most valuable things I had and I wanted her to know how much that meant to me.
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jun 30, 2011 23:28:36 GMT -5
I blushed and looked down, his touches far more satisfying than they should have been. Was I really so fickle to jump from Sergei to Landis without pause. That's not the truth Mercy, and you know it. You've been like this with him since you were a teenager.
I should have pulled my hand away, but I didn't. It just felt comfortable, like so little in my life recently. "Are you finding your responsibilities bearable?" I asked, returning to one of his earlier comments.
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Jul 1, 2011 22:53:16 GMT -5
For a moment I wondered if she'd have pulled away and blushed, but her hand stayed in mine and I took some comfort in that. It was a small thing, her warm skin only touching mine through my fingers, but it was far more than I'd had from her in some time and a very pleasant reminder of everything that had happened between us before. I remembered it fondly, as well as her kisses... Had they changed in all of these years? It was probably too bold a thought but I wasn't going to deny it either. I was still a d'Angeline.
"They're not too difficult as yet, though a little different than what I'm used to," I replied with a slight smile, my fingers continuing to caress over the soft skin of her hand and fingertips affectionately. It was a small thing, at least to me, and I was sure to keep the touch light. " I'm still going to be around for you to talk to should you need it, at least as long as I have a say in the matter. I don't let my friends down and we've barely had time to speak to one another again." I really wasn't looking forward to having to leave if things did become a war, but I knew I'd have to. "Last time I went to fight it took us eight years before we spoke again and I'm not looking to repeat that."
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jul 4, 2011 22:25:14 GMT -5
Oh merciful Mother, my mind began to cloud with the feeling of his hand around mine. Especially when he started stroking my skin. "I have no wish to repeat it either," I fair breathed, my voice soft and vulnerable. When I heard my voice, it was strange enough in my own ears that it startled my mind back into active thought. I took a drink of my cider to cover up some of my flaming blush, and swallowed hard. "Will the fighting come soon?"
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Jul 5, 2011 16:10:25 GMT -5
For a moment there had almost been that moment where she would have given in, could have let herself go and just accepted something that she was feeling without being suspicious of it and I mourned it for a moment when it passed to leave her reaching for her cider and putting that shield up around herself once again. Nevertheless what she said likely was true- she didn't want to lose another friend, though if she let herself feel anything more deeply than that I couldn't guess any longer. Nevertheless I continued to stroke her hand lightly because she enjoyed it and I wanted to see her happy, if only in a small way. "Soon enough, though I suppose it always seems too soon," I told her with a wry smile and chuckle. "A few weeks I'd suppose. Will you stay here through it or go back to Aragonia?"
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jul 8, 2011 23:34:07 GMT -5
"I will stay. My father won't be happy, he worries. But I'm not ready to leave just yet. Will you write to me? I worried about you, all the way across the ocean, in all the sand. I know I'll worry about you again," I said, my request shy. It was hard not to be shy, for it admitted a great depth of feeling for him. We had always been friends, but I knew I worried for him in a way that was just that little bit more. "Please?"
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Jul 9, 2011 13:08:20 GMT -5
It was sad to hear that she'd worried for so long and that we'd only been able to exchange a few letters during all of those years, but at war the mail was never as reliable as it could have been. That was simply the past though and I didn't see any reason that I shouldn't be able to now. "I'll write as often as I can, as long as you agree to write in return. I'll be fine, don't worry, but you have to promise that you'll be as safe as you can and if anything seems to turn for the worst I want you to go back to Aragonia. Will you promise me that?" I knew it was hard for her to ask what she had, and similarly it was hard for me to ask that of her, but my voice was gentle and sincere as I did so and I raised her hand and kissed the back lightly as I did so. "Please?"
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jul 11, 2011 22:00:28 GMT -5
The thought of what 'the worst' was, and what it would mean for Landis in the field, was a despairing thing. "I promise," I whispered. I did not want to imagine him dead, but that he was trying to keep me safe, even if... My lips trembled with a brave smile, and my fingers squeezed his gently. "I promise. You won't have to worry about me."
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Jul 23, 2011 18:40:35 GMT -5
She looked so upset for a moment that I worried for her crying, but then she squeezed my hand and I gently squeezed hers back. I knew she would worry, that was what people did for people they cared about, but I wanted her to at least try for something besides sorrow. She needed to have a life worth living, even if it wasn't here, and being alive was the first step to that. I would worry about her too, and do my best to make sure things ended quickly so she was safe here, or at least as safe as the City ever was.
"I believe you, Mercy," I told her sincerely, giving her another warm smile, daring to raise my free hand and stroke her cheek. "Will you pray for me again? Last time it seemed to help."
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Jul 25, 2011 14:25:09 GMT -5
Oh Mother, his hand felt so good against my cheek. Warm, alive, comforting. And far too alluring. But I knew that it was only his way. "Of course I will, every night," I whispered, then smiled more easily.
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Aug 1, 2011 11:21:51 GMT -5
I had no idea what was motivating me at this point but I was feeling very comfortable at the moment, enough so that I could remember fondly all the closeness we'd enjoyed before without worrying that she'd changed too much to ever go back to that again. "Is that what you did the first time?" I asked curiously, not moving my hand, a gentle smile on my lips. "I don't want you to lose too much sleep over this. You'll need your rest too and I'm sure you have far more things to think on."
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Aug 1, 2011 13:15:43 GMT -5
"You worry too much Landis," I told him with a soft smile. I wanted to close my eyes and lean into his hand, but my modesty held me back. "I pray to the Mother every night before I sleep, I always have. Only soon, like when you were fighting in Akkad, the prayers will include you and the other D'Angeline forces."
|
|
|
Post by Landis de Verreuil on Aug 5, 2011 7:58:08 GMT -5
It was obvious that her faith brought her a good bit of comfort and I cocked my head as I considered her and the way she was relaxing at my touch, but not trusting me or herself enough to just give in. I could have loved her once, and now, but would she ever be willing to love me back, or would there always be something she was looking for that I could never fill? What had changed between the past and now to make her put such hard standards on her heart? "Your gods are kind to keep us in mind. I'll be asking my own blessings for the safety of everyone as well," I replied with a smile, then sighed. "Did something change between us, Mercy? I feel a bit like you're holding back with me."
|
|
Mercedes de las Aragonia
Royal
Princesa of Aragonia and Condesa de Lleida
Daughter of Rafael and Colette de las Aragonia
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by Mercedes de las Aragonia on Aug 8, 2011 0:30:31 GMT -5
His words caught me off guard, and brought a rush of emotions to my mind. I slowly sat up so that he no longer touched me and, oh Mother no, my lower lip began to tremble. Was I doing what Sergei had been so angry at me for, was I not trusting? But... I was out here with Landis, unaccompanied, and had let him touch me so...
I turned away, trying to get myself under control. "Apparently I hold back from everyone," I said, my voice bitter as my hands clenched together on my lap. A hot tear fell on them. "Maybe I've had my heart broken one too many times." How could Landis... how could he ask me that right now?
|
|