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Post by Asinity on Dec 19, 2017 5:06:07 GMT
The death of King Ferdinand du Valdez had sent ripples through Rjillund that day. Right as Koschei was about to have his first conversation with his proposed Cassian bride, messengers had been sent to deliver both families news of the monarch's death. The two had been forced to part ways, and to gather with their separate families to discuss the various courses of action. Koschei was not of a mind to give up on getting to know Lady Patrice, however, and had sent a runner to her as soon as the Vyres had reached a decision on what they would do next. The black-haired man wasn't completely certain if she'd be given leave by her father to meet him, but he imagined the odds were in his favor.
Koschei had chosen to meet the woman in the palace gardens, and made certain to stand in a place to where he could be seen. There were two Rjillish knights acting as his escort, but he asked them to give him some space. The tall Tsar of Zarasai stood with his hands clasped behind him, as he gazed at a statue of Caspian I. Its likeness reminded him immediately of the statue of Prince Vytoras in Zarasai, though the artistry seemed a great deal closer to the style of the old Imperial Empire. It fit right into its surroundings here in the heart of Carenna.
Though he had seen her only briefly, Koschei had to admit that the Cassian woman held a Rjillish beauty to her. Having grown up around native Luskans most of his life, the king was used to the pale skin and faded hair of the Salkans and people of the Wolf-Spine. He'd seen many traveling merchants and adventurers from other places of course, but rarely did he approach them, even as a child. Koschei was always the more inquisitive type; more inclined to theorize and wonder, rather than to stick his nose out or raise his voice. It was rare that he would strike up a conversation with a stranger, though he grew more bold in this regard as he aged. Now, as a man grown, he had to admit that Patrice's smile lingered on his mind.
Hopefully she's got good conversation, the king mused, as he awaited her.
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Post by Fyremage on Dec 19, 2017 19:48:35 GMT
'I hope he's good at making conversation.' Patrice thought to herself as she was escorted into the gardens of Whitefall. She often came here during her moments of self reflection and when she felt the need to be alone. It was all so peaceful, a certain serenity some would think to be uncommon to find in a nation so accustomed to war. Yet, Rjillund was full of surprises, with this place being one of Patrice's favorites. Of course, to her it was no surprise. She held a deep, early memory of her mother walking with her and observing the lilies which grew so well by the pond. Her mother had always been so beautiful to her, at least she remembers feeling at that time. That was so long ago however. She was only six when her mother died giving birth to her younger brother Karl, and had it not been for a handful of portraits contained within the private chambers reserved for the Cassian family within the palace, Patrice would be quite sure that she would have all but forgotten her mother's face. Even with those paintings in mind, for some reason they didn't quite seem like enough to capture and remember her mother. Which was why she always opted to come here. As she looked at the lilies and smelled the roses, she had this feeling well up within her that her mother was with her even still, in the very roots of the life which teemed in the gardens. Perhaps that was why her father rarely ventured here.
Ferrus had always been a loving father to her and her brothers, at least as best as he could be. But every time the subject of her mother's untimely death came up, the expression on her father's face seemed to imply it was a wound that never truly healed. From what she remembers being told, her mother died mere months before the war broke out: leaving little time for her father to heal and grieve for his beloved before he had to defend his country, and mourn the losses of his countrymen. With all the scars which her father carried, Patrice loved him all the same. And while the nerves which flooded her veins threatened to cause her heart to beat out of its chest, her eyes caught a familiar figure as they casually looked up. Her father met her gaze as she stepped into the garden, a faint smile on his lips which hid an otherwise dour expression. The death of King Ferdinand meant many things, few of them good for Rjillund. Her father was no doubt very busy with planning how Rjillund could help with the events that would no doubt follow, so busy in fact that Patrice was surprised he even agreed to allow this meeting to take place. Patrice knew well that her father wanted to be there when she met her betrothed for the first time, perhaps because he knew she was a bit reserved. The sight of him staring down at her was a bit reassuring, and it was only after she smiled back and offered a slight wave that he nodded his head and withdrew from the window, likely off to a meeting with his councilors.
While this day could hardly be described as a happy one with the previous news reaching everyone's ears, the weather itself was by contrast very pleasant, which further heartened her as she rounded the bend and laid eyes on him. While she was expecting a formidable looking man based on the descriptions she had heard of him, the rumors hardly did her any justice. She was a bit taken aback by how strong and commanding he looked, with sharp, angular features and a countenance which bespoke respect. Her expression was altogether reflective of this, but she quickly made an effort to recompose herself. By way of adornment, she was dressed in a soft, yellow dress with her hair braided in a modest though appealing manner, with a floral pin keeping it all together. She slowly but steadily made her way to Koschei, her cheeks a bit flushed (which was thankfully hidden by a touch of color applied to them by one of her handmaidens)as she did so. And then, came her smile. She wasn't sure how it looked, given her nerves and the high possibility that they would show in her expression, but it was no less genuine as offered Koschei her hand and gave him a polite curtsy. "Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
'Really...?' She chided herself mentally. 'You both are engaged and that is the first thing you say to him??'
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Post by Asinity on Dec 20, 2017 17:00:14 GMT
The tall, black-haired man turned upon hearing the woman's footsteps, and smiled at her arrival. The Tsar was clothed in a clover-dyed linen shirt and form-fitting black trousers that were stuffed under leather riding boots. His sleeves were rolled up and a black leather belt was fastened around his waist. At his hip was a longsword, though it was more ceremonial and a mark of office than anything. In truth, he couldn't recall the last time he'd dressed so casually, but Koschei wanted to at least give Patrice the benefit of seeing him at his most comfortable.
"Lady Patrice," he greeted her, and reached out to grasp her hand to kiss it. "Please, feel free to call me Koschei. I hear the titles enough as it is."
Koschei's smile widened, and he gently lowered her hand and released it. He hadn't remembered her face well enough before, and the sight of its beauty so close to him caused his heart to stir.
"Thank you for meeting me," the king enthused. "I hope I didn't take you away from anything, but I...I didn't want to leave for Luska without at least having a conversation with you."
The dark-haired man allowed a moment for her to reply before he nodded and placed a hand on his hip.
"I imagine you've been here several times, but would you care to walk?" he asked the Cassian Princess. "I...tried to find a bench, but it looks like I'm not the best at navigating gardens..."
Koschei attempted a reassuring smile, but felt a little embarrassed at the comment. Such an awkward thing to say, he thought. Thought it was about one-hundred percent true. He'd walked for at least five minutes to try and find somewhere for them to sit, before giving up and standing by the statue of Caspian I. At the very least, he had made it easy to find him.
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Post by Fyremage on Dec 22, 2017 16:34:26 GMT
She wasn't sure why, but Patrice let a slight giggle emit from her mouth, which she tried to stifle by placing her hand atop her mouth. Upon further thought, it just seemed so humorous that a man of Koschei's stature would have difficulty navigating something as mundane as a garden. She gave him a glance as she began walking, her guards keeping a respectful distance as they allowed the courting couple some measure of privacy. The nearest bench wasn't far really, in fact opposite of the statue of Caspian I flanked on either side by neatly manicured hedges, under the shade of a rather large tree. She gracefully let herself down at the bench, tucking her left foot behind her right and maintaining a straight and upright posture. She waited for Koschei to take a seat next to her before looking his way again, her faint blue eyes meeting his for a few scant moments before she smiled and looked elsewhere.
"I must apologize to you, before we go on too long." She began with a low, slightly meek tone. "I tend to be... well.." Her nerves flared up again, causing her to feel slightly short of breath and stumbling for the right words. Somehow though, she was able to do so quickly enough and finish her statement. "I tend to be rather quiet. It's not for the desire to be alone or in an attempt to be unfriendly. I suppose... I just like to listen, and read. This is actually my favorite place to do that."
Her hands felt awkward all of a sudden, with Patrice deciding the best use for them was to hold each other on her lap.
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Post by Asinity on Dec 24, 2017 15:36:03 GMT
Koschei smiled earnestly at the woman's confession, and clasped his own hands together on his lap. If any of his family had seen him now, they would've made some comment about how genuinely he was smiling at the moment, and how they hadn't seen him make such a face in a long time. He brushed aside the thought and looked again upon his soon-to-be bride.
"We have something in common, then," the dark-haired man admitted. "My father used to tell me I was too ponderous for a king, but...well, with a place like this I think I'd come here a lot too."
The king visibly looked out at the gardens for a brief moment before his eyes settled upon the woman again. She was truly beautiful, and it was hard for him not to feel a stirring in his heart for her. Even if this was some sort of arrangement to benefit politics or otherwise, the thought of having someone such as Patrice in his life gave Koschei a feeling he'd never had before.
"It's beautiful," the king enthused, as he looked at her eyes. You are, he thought. No, not yet. You've just met. Easy.
Koschei caught himself, and smirked.
"So...what do you like to read about?" he asked, in earnest. "What interests you the most?"
The dark-haired mean deeply wanted to learn more about her, though he hoped he didn't seem overly excited. If he was honest, Koschei knew he had a long life ahead of him, and if he was going to share it with someone, the prospect of also getting along was heavy on his heart.
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Post by Fyremage on Dec 27, 2017 15:37:54 GMT
Patrice' eyes met Koschei's, with her soft blue irises catching the sunlight at the perfect angle. Of course it was all inadvertent, as she gave him a warm smile then fell into several moments of thought upon his question as to what her reading preferences were. It was altogether likely that Koschei didn't fully realize just how personal of a question that really was to her. She mused silently over the question for several moments until she finally spoke again. "I have to be honest: no one has really asked me that question before." She smiled as her eyes redirected back to the ground briefly until her constant tutelage as a lady kicked in, forcing her to look up once again.
"Lately I have been reading of the Voyages of James A. Rackham. My father doesn't necessarily approve given the man is widely considered to be a... well, brigand and rogue. But I would be lying if I said the stories of his exploits don't intrigue me." Just the mere thought of adventure and seeing the world seemed to make Patrice's face glow slightly brighter than it had mere moments prior, with a faint smile remaining upon her lips even as she stopped talking.
She seemed to return from whatever far away locale she had ventured to with the next words she spoke. "I suppose I enjoy books that take me to different places at different times. Not to say I don't enjoy history. It just..."
She paused, as if trying to find the right words to clarify her meaning. "History can grow rather dark."
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Post by Asinity on Dec 28, 2017 16:00:47 GMT
The king's face noticeably brightened.
"Adventure," the tall man enthused. "I can relate to that."
Koschei observed the woman in a newer light. Being that he'd never been in an honest relationship before, the king found himself getting more excited the more he spoke to her. Knowing now that she too valued the idea of travel, new experiences, and adventure, helped Koschei feel more comfortable with her. He turned his body so that he was able to face her a little more.
"History has its lessons, but I see your point," Koschei admitted. "I've been reading about Boterin, myself. The Chronicles."
A part of him wanted to start talking about all that he'd read on Boteri culture so far, but the man stopped himself. He was far more interested in learning about her, than speaking about food and culture. There would be plenty of time for that later. Koschei brushed his bangs to the side and brought an arm up to rest along the back of the bench.
"Your book sounds interesting," the king expressed with a smile. "Do you think you'd travel more often, if you could? I mean, well...not that anything has stopped you, but I know the war was...confining."
It wasn't the most interesting question, and it probably seemed like a fumbled topic change, but Patrice's answer was important to Koschei. He was a king, of course, but he valued the ability to travel and see other places almost as equally as ruling Luska. The Vyre lord had a romantic heart, though there were few who knew it.
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Post by Fyremage on Jan 4, 2018 14:15:36 GMT
"Oh very much so." Patrice agreed as Koschei mentioned how confining the last few years of her life had been. "No where seemed safe, with the war between my family and the Galathions, and even between yours and the Valdez. I have always wanted to visit Routaille and visit Arno, but..." She looked down briefly with an air of sorrow in her eyes. She had barely even seen her cousins honestly, save for the frosty reception given by her father when the representative of Alendron angered him. While she was relatively young when Arno stayed with them, she had a fondness for him and had hoped to catch up. All of that seemed to be in shambles now. "...well from what I've heard it's not a place for a lady like me to visit."
She could feel herself slipping into the trappings of melancholy, but was soon to rebound as she gave Koschei a genuine though very slightly faint smile. "I am very glad that we could meet finally. I... It's good to finally place a person behind the name I've heard so much about."
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Post by Asinity on Jan 8, 2018 21:32:40 GMT
Koschei nodded toward Patrice at her mention of the tensions among the Trevastine kingdoms. He'd had firsthand experience in dealing with both wars, though between Alendron and Rjillund it had been mostly an attempt to broker peace and ensure his aunt and uncle's safety.
"I completely understand," the tall man expressed. "It's hard to even say we're at peace now. Trevast, you know. I'm glad at least that your family and Galathion have reached terms of some kind. I know it was difficult for both of you."
The king pursed his lips together pensively for a moment, before shaking himself out of a somber thought as Patrice spoke again. Her honesty made him smile.
"I'm glad we could meet as well," Koschei enthused. "I've, ah...I've probably been looking forward to it since I left Luska."
With a slight flush of color to his cheeks, the dark-haired man chuckled nervously. He wasn't used to being so open about his feelings, but Patrice was a very important person to him; one that would he wanted to trust with everything in his life. It would be a great step forward from where he started with her, of course, but Koschei had high hopes. His parents had been fairly distant in his upbringing, and the result had created a person who craved a close relationship like a pauper craves success. Koschei hoped this weakness would not be his undoing.
"Well...I'm curious what all you've heard about me, but..." he trailed off for a moment, his mouth slightly ajar. A single laugh escaped his lips, almost like a sigh, as he gave in to a genuine smile. "There's also so much I want to know about you."
The king paused, and watched the woman's expression.
"It's very unfair that we're so limited on time," Koschei thought aloud. "I could probably sit here for a while and talk with you until the sun sets, but, well...I'd rather not bore you to death. And we could do better with some wine, and a good meal at least."
"Why don't we be candid, for now?" he asked. "Tell me, honestly, what do you like in a man?"
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Post by Fyremage on Jan 9, 2018 15:15:59 GMT
"Hmm..." Patrice paused momentarily as Koschei asked her what he did. "In truth, I haven't given it much thought. I can't say I've had much experience around men I'm not related to, save for the sons of noblemen who visit court." She still thought a bit about the question though. While she may not have had much experience, she could at least comment on perhaps the traits she's noticed that she likes around men she knows.
"But if I had to speak to what I may like, I would say I appreciate... a sense of confidence and surety I suppose?" She paused a moment, as if trying to think about how to clarify what she was saying. "During the war with Alendron, I would hear stories about the horrors and tragedies befalling families and young women throughout the countryside. Now that I'm older, I'm sure some of them may have been embellished a bit by the time they reached my ears, but overall - in the wake of all of that fear and uncertainty, I always felt safe. My father always greeted me with a smile, and always made me feel at ease through it all."
She smiled and blushed slightly, craning her head down in embarrassment. "I suppose I'm a bit of a stereotypical girl who loves her father. I've just always hoped that when I marry, my husband holds the same strength of character and confidence in his decisions. But at the same time..." Her thoughts briefly flitted to the letters written by her aunt Margerethe describing the harsh realities of King Odo and his reign. She wasn't meant to read them, as they were written to her father. But... well she read them anyway, sneaking into her father's study in the night. "Someone who can admit when they have gone too far, and who can learn to love me."
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Post by Asinity on Jan 12, 2018 2:41:55 GMT
Koschei took the description thoughtfully, and appraised himself as Patrice spoke. Was he confident? Fearless? Cognizant of his weaknesses, and able to admit them? It was easy enough to look into his psyche and find some part of each of those traits within him, but it would be colored with his own perspective. Only Patrice could really comment on what the king of Luska was really like, once she got to know him.
Love, now that was the hardest part. Koschei would have no answer for her, with that. How could he? He'd never loved before, firstly, and his parents hadn't been the most affectionate or loving. Quite the opposite, in fact. It seemed as though for Patrice, a nurturing relationship with the king of Luska would be a gamble.
"All good qualities," he thought aloud, and nodded his head. "I think our fathers got along well, if I remember right. Mine spoke well of Ferrus, and he was in good spirits enough when I came to the address, yesterday. He seems like a great man. A temper, at times, but I think what happened yesterday would have made anyone upset."
The dark-haired man offered her a smile.
"In any case, that's fair enough," Koschei expressed. "Do you have any questions for me, perhaps? Anything you'd like to know?"
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Post by Fyremage on Jan 18, 2018 16:18:57 GMT
"Father has always protected us." She said with a respectful tone, with a touch of admiration. "It's probably naive of me, but it just seemed like he was so stable during the war. Unmoveable, and undeterred." And then, her tone took a bit of a somber slant. She remembered what he was like before the war, at least as best as she good at such a young age, and it seemed like he smiled more and laughed more. Now he smiled, but rarely did he laugh like he did.[/color] "He got us through a lot."
It was then that the topic had mercifully been shifted to that of asking of Patrice wanted to know anything of him. In truth, there were many things that she wanted to know. But how much could she learn over one simple conversation? "What do you really think? Of... me?"
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Post by Asinity on Jan 25, 2018 4:44:10 GMT
Koschei couldn't help but feel the reverence that Patrice had for her father. It was evident that the woman held the man in high respect, and he'd done a lot to keep his family together during the crisis that Rjillund had endured. The thought caused the Luskan king to muse over how his own father had acted during the war with Valdez. In his heart, he couldn't say that he felt the same way toward his father as Patrice did, but in a way he could respect the man's iron will. Velizar had been a undaunted ruler, if he had been anything.
When the woman posed the question to him, Koschei let himself smile.
"That's a difficult question," he admitted, though her interest in his true thoughts was disarming. He took a moment to think it over, as he looked into Patrice's eyes.
"You seem like a very thoughtful person, and I can tell you're very proud of your family and your kingdom," he observed. "You like strong men, but you don't seem like someone who needs one, if you understand what I mean. I see some of your father in you."
The king allowed a breath to pass between them, and he looked away from her.
"Do you want a husband?" he thought aloud. "That's hard for me to tell. I'd almost feel guilty taking you away from a place you love so much."
Koschei's eyes turned back to her, and he rested a hand on her own. He smile genuinely.
"I am no war hero, my lady," he declared in an honest, faintly humorous tone. "But I can tell you that whoever I fall in love with will have my absolute loyalty. I want to do great things in my life, and rule a kingdom that I have made better. You seem like an honest woman. One that values family, and strength, and...confidence. I don't know if you see those things in me, but if you did, I think I'd feel pretty happy."
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Post by Fyremage on Jan 26, 2018 22:15:09 GMT
"Oh my." When Koschei asked the question of whether or not Patrice wanted a husband, she had to admit she blushed slightly. The question of whether or not she wanted a husband was an intriguing one indeed. Yes, her father had always been a dominant male presence, along with her brothers. For a while, she felt content in their influences molding and shaping her as a girl and young teenager. But as she grew older, she would be lying if the... womanly urges that come with age hadn't started to creep in upon her desires and hopes for the future. And of course, what princess didn't dream of a kind and strong knight or prince appearing out of thin air and taking their hand in marriage? Of course now she was twenty-one, but one of her guilty musings was of occasionally wondering what picturesque lord she could call her own.
And while she couldn't say she knew Koschei all too well, she did however feel her cheeks flushing and her heart stirring slightly in her chest. Her betrothed bore a certain charm that she had not experienced before. Sure the occasional nobleman's son would attempt to speak to her now and again, but ever since Erich beat up that one boy, well... that was a rare occurrence as of late. Even still, this was... different. When Koschei finished his monologue, she gave him a slow, but genuine smile, and looked down sheepishly. It was only then that she noticed her hand resting upon his. 'How long has that been there???' she thought to herself, quite unconscious of when her hand found his, even though in actual fact it was for quite some time now. She wanted to with draw her hand, and did so quickly, placing it back onto her lap. A rosy red hue returned to her cheeks, and she took a moment to compose herself before speaking. She was a lady after all. "I... I think I do." 'I think I do see that in you." is what she meant to say, but not what came out. She let out a slight half-laugh, but more like a gasp as she looked back up and into his eyes. She honestly felt a bit... captivated in the way he looked at her, and she couldn't help but not stare into them. Her lips pouted ever so slightly as several thoughts raised in her mind. 'Should we... no it would be inappropriate to kiss now. But would it though...?
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