[center][h3][i]Where Hope is Sown[/i][/h3][/center]
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[i]A Collab Conducted By: [@TheDuncanMorgan] and I[/i]

         By all standards, the coronation of King Duncan De Reimer went smoothly, and proved to be an event enjoyed by all. Hours after the coronation ceremony, when the council members returned to the keep for the evening, or at least, those not overly intoxicated, such as Aurelia and Alex, they went their separate ways. Duncan had returned only an hour earlier, the look of exhaustion evident on his face, leaving her to surmise that the preparation for the ceremony had left him with little sleep. Aurelia, on the other hand, while her mind remained restless after speaking with her dearly beloved friend, what sleep came to her was in the aid of a sleeping tonic she had brewed by a member of the Alchemist's Guild. Still dressed in her finery of crimson satin and gold chiffon, Aurelia determined that the best course of action to deal with the awkward coldness between Duncan and her, was to confront him directly, so she made her way to the King's chambers. Rigid and inflexible stood two guards dressed in ceremonial garb representing the city of Nyhem, in each hand they held steadfast to a polearm, and in the opposite hand, each retained a shield bearing their respectable coat of arms. As personal knights to Duncan, the newly ordained monarch of Formaroth, they kept guard over him, their sole duty to prevent any travesty to befall the new king. With faces hidden behind steel helms, Aurelia could not see their eyes for the shadow cast over them. She slowed her fast-gait, until she came to stand silently before them. When she did stop, neither of the guards seemed to pay her any attention, though she knew for a fact, that if she approached the king’s chamber room without granted access, they would draw their polearms across the entryway.

“Sir knights, I have business matters to discuss with the king before he retires for the evening. Will you give him word that, High Magister Aurelia Vyncetta wishes to speak with him?” Unwavering in her speech, she did not feel so strong within. Truly, for her heart palpitated like a war drum, banging painfully inside her ribcage. All of the moisture in her mouth evaporated, an indication of her own nervousness. Again, neither seemed to have heard her, for they did not move for several painful seconds, until the one on the left nodded. While the guard on the left opened the chamber door, the guard on the right moved to stand in front of Aurelia, blocking her passage until consent was granted.

"For fuck's sake." sighed Duncan as he knocked his inkwell onto the stone floor, causing it to shatter as the ink began to stain the stone floor of his room. He had been writing a letter to his brother regarding the events of the coronation. Admittedly he was exhausted, he had had little time to rest since the coronation and he was struggling to keep awake. The sun was starting to set outside as the day's last rays of sunlight crept through the window. He would soon have to light the candles before darkness engulfed the room.

“Your Majesty, Aurelia seeks a private council with you in your chambers. Will you have her, milord?” Asked the knight, as he poked his head around the door, his eyes having to adjust to the dimming light.

          Duncan hesitated for a moment before replying. It had been a long time since the two of them had talked together, and the awkwardness from their last encounter had yet to resolve itself. He knew that he would eventually have to talk to her about it, though he still dreaded the prospect; after all Duncan always did find situations like this difficult to handle. 

"Very well send her in." Duncan replied as he started to pour himself a glass of wine from the jug that was on his desk. As he poured, he noted that he had been drinking more regularly as of late, his new responsibilities as king had added to his stress and he found that alcohol helped to calm his nerves. Almost half the reigning monarchs of Formaroth had some sort of recorded drinking problem, and Duncan no longer wondered why.

          When the guard nodded his head, giving her entrance to his inner chambers, the soles of her slippers made not a single sound as she waited for the door to close behind her. With a soft click, the door latched into place, giving the two of them privacy, and privacy would be needed for what she had to say. "Your highness, I hope you can forgive this intrusion, I know you must be exhausted from the ceremony, so I would like to keep this brief." She began with a slight curtsy, before taking a seat before his desk. While the accommodations for the king's chambers were new to her, her eyes scoured the room in awe, astonished at the king's quarters. 

"I spoke with my dear friend, Lana. First, I would like to thank you for consenting to the new changes in our laws, for holding Mage's to a higher living standard, and going to great lengths to protect our kind. I trust that you will find that relationship to be deeply mutual, and a well respected one at that." She watched Duncan pour his glass of wine, and wondered how many glasses he had had previously. With not being as present in his life as before, one could say that Aurelia did not know of how their new king fared now under his newly appointed reign.

"However, that is not what brings me here today. There is a matter that I wish to address, one that concerns you and I. I'm aware that our relationship has entered a stalemate so to speak. Ever since that night, when I had far too much wine to drink, there were words exchanged between ourselves, words that put me into an aloof state of mind, one that I have found it hard to even concentrate on my research. I deem it best that we clear this matter up, so that I may continue on with my work in a peaceful state. I first would like to apologize for my cold and distant behavior, your highness. I hope that you can forgive me." She waited, her nerves stroked painfully thin already, confronting Duncan on an emotional level was simply something she never bothered with, until now.

"There is nothing to forgive" Duncan said as he gestured at the chair in front of him, "After all it was I who initiated this whole situation. I should be the one apologizing to you." Duncan went to drink from his goblet before he stopped himself; he knew what happened the last time he drunk too much while with Aurelia. 

"I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable, and I hate that I was the one that caused this rift in our friendship. The truth is..." Duncan paused for a moment as he hesitated to continue. It would be much easier for him to lie to her, to tell her that it was nothing more than the words of a drunk man. Though Aurelia had stood beside him for years and honesty was the least he could give her. 

"The truth is that those words were the truth, I have wondered if we could ever be more that what we are now. However judging from your reaction to this, confession, I acknowledge that you probably do not share these thoughts. As such I will bury these thoughts and continue our friendship as normal, if that is what you wish?"

           With brows furrowed, Aurelia listened on in agony. Not that she, herself, suffered physically from his words, rather she knew that were she not to tell him the truth, her conscience would not rest for many more nights, perhaps even months. While she moved to stand beside the chair, Aurelia did not seat herself before him. She had her own words to say.

"Before you do so. Allow me to explain myself further, your majesty." It felt foreign to address Duncan formally, but as it stood now, she knew that law obligated her to do so.

"I..." She paused, searching with vehemence to seek out the proper words befitting to what she desired to say. "You must understand, my liege, never in my life, have I ever loved another. All my life, my sole focus has centered upon my academic pursuits, and when I became High Magister, upon the duties I must uphold. I will not lie, as it is not in my nature, but I share these very same feelings for you. For many years, you have been my only friend here within the walls of the keep. So you see, while you are my confidant in nearly all matters of castle life, I have never considered the idea of love. To me, love is a foolish notion, simply for I have never loved another. I... would be willingly to explore the possibility of a romantic relationship with you, though I beg of you, to have patience. I know nothing of courtly love, nor even how to act remotely so. You may even think me cold, but please, if our friendship is to evolve into something more... I ask that you bear in mind, my lack of experience in the realm of love." As she addressed him, all the while the apples of her cheeks continued to darken into a rosy hue. She would have cursed the wine, if she had had any to drink beforehand. Now, the moment she dreaded most had come, her confession of her feelings for Duncan had emerged. What would he say? Would he laugh at her? Would he turn her away? Would he accept her words? The knuckles on her hand turned bone-white as she gripped the edge of the chair firmly in her hands, were she any stronger, she would have broken the wooden frame in pieces.

       Duncan was at a loss of what to say. This was not the response he expected, but rather the one he had hoped for. "I am extremely happy that you are willing to at least give it a chance, I must confess I didn't think you would ever view me in that way." Duncan replied with a smile. 

"I understand your wish for me to be patience, I myself remember when I first engaged in a romantic relationship. I know the same fear and nervousness you are feeling now, when me and..." Duncan suddenly stopped himself, not willing to re-surface memories of his past love. 

"What I mean to say is I will do as you ask of me".

       He had accepted her ideals of patience, which caused her shoulders to slump in relief. At least he had not turned her away. Yet, when he revealed that he had entered into a romantic relationship before, he quickly changed the subject. Had someone he loved caused him pain? She did not press the matter, and instead, sought to take her leave.

"Thank you... I... so what happens now? I expect you to be the one to lead me on this path, Duncan." It was the first time in sometime that she had addressed him by his first name after the coronation ceremony. Delicate matters were discussed, though Aurelia found the situation to be tense and awkward even more so, Duncan seemed to sense this and decided that they both ought to get what sleep they can. In the meantime, plans for a private encounter were arranged between the two of them before she departed for the night.