Carantathraiel

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

I'M ON!

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Aera watched Kentaro slink off, knowing she would be in trouble later, for going straight to Taris, rather than her own husband. Or maybe she wouldn't. It was hard to tell, Kentaro was so full of wine. 

She nodded at Taris' question and continued walking, getting into the palace as quickly as possible, so the shadow elf behind her could get some relief. They went up a few flight of stairs, Aera occasionally glancing over her shoulder to see how Taris was holding himself. Being indoors seemed to help him, but he was very clearly still in pain.
The pale elf crooked a finger at one of the older maids that they passed, motioning for the brown haired woman to follow. Inside Aera's chambers, she pointed to the center of the room. "Strip." She said. "Any part of your skin that's cracked, we need to get to." Taris began to slowly remove more layers, but it was so slow going and painful looking that Aera waved her hand and the maid stepped forward to help.

While he was being undressed, Aera turned and found the jar of the mossy green salve she had been given. She set it down and waited for the maid to finish. The maid was middle aged, in human's terms, her face set with light wrinkles, her auburn hair flecked in grey. She had worked around Aera before and Aera felt she could be relied on. On Aera's request, the maid brought over a little stool and had Taris sit, which he did, stiffly. 

Then the salve was administered. Aera put her hand in the jar and took out a large amount, the stuff seeping into her gloves and draining the color from them. "A friend of mine made this for me. He used it the day I'd made my first walk under the sun." With her clean hand she lifted his hair and began rubbing it along his back, her eyes following the scars that could be seen between the cracks. "I wasn't this bad," she continued. "My skin was red, I had blisters and burns. It looked like I had been tossed into a fire."
While the maid worked on his stomach and chest, Aera covered his arms. Almost immediately, Taris could feel the difference, the searing pain of his skin ebbing away. 

Letting the maid finish covering him, Aera stepped back, untying her gloves and pulling them off to change. This pair would have to be tossed. She picked up a white pair and began pulling them on, watching Taris. "How does it feel?"

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Away on the dais, Aera watched Kasca and Taris, her face blank but her heart beating fast. She had wanted to see Kasca mercilessly defeated, hoping to see his tall ego wounded. But it clearly wasn't going to happen. Her eyes narrowed as Kasca mocked Taris openly, who was obviously struggling to stand upright, let alone shoot an arrow straight. 

Its the sun, she thought, remembering her agony the first time she'd had to be in it. It was a fever filled, agonizing haze. She fidgeted in her seat, feeling her lower back press against the chair. The scar that ran across her skin had nearly killed her that day had never healed, and she had been suffering under its fever when she'd first walked the world during the day.
Watching Taris now, she could only imagine the agony he was in. Pitying him, she wanted to go and help but knew doing so would raise questions. 

So instead she watched. 
When Taris shot his final arrow and brought Kasca to a surprising defeat, Aera had to resist standing and applauding with the other elves to the side. She was hated enough.

Taris immediately walked off and vanished into his tent. While the crowd was caught between praising the victor and booing the elf, Aera stood and left the dais.

Outside Taris' tent stood a group of elves, slaves and thieves. They gave her a fearful glance as she approached. “Is he alright?” She asked the little elf standing before him. Another darted into the tent while the one before Aera answered. 
“He's in bad shape, my Lady.”
Aera frowned and pushed her way into the tent. Taris sat bent over in a chair, covered in towels while other elves were pouring water over his skin. She watched, standing to the side, noticing his extreme discomfort. It bothered her. 

“You just had to beat him.” She said at last. 
Taris lifted his head to look at her, his expression tense. “Beat who?” He asked shortly.
The pale elf shook her head and stepped forward, taking his chin in her hands and lifting his face, her other hand pulling up one of the towels from his black shoulder. His flesh was cracked and raw, and her own skin crawled at the sight of it. “Does this help?” She asked, not looking at his face. The water would hydrate his skin again, yes, but would it heal it? “I have a salve in my chambers that will help if you need.” Finally her eyes met his.

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Aera watched the matched with a blank face, but her heart was beating and she felt uneasy. As hard as she tried to push Envy's words to the back of her mind so she could focus on the match, it was difficult. If Envy didn't know what it was or what dangers trailed after it..... Envy knew everything. The fact that he had no idea scared her more than his words. 

The sound of Kentaro's second shot brought her forth from her labyrinth of thoughts and she focused on the match. His shot missed the target entirely and his sister groaned beside her. "Who is that elf? Why did we let him join in?"
"He's a guest of the Spymaster." Aera answered unprovoked. Risa glared at her. Of course you would know him, her expression said. 

Taris shot again and ended the match, but Kentaro took his final shot, obviously trying to compose himself and magic the wine from his blood. This wouldn't make an enjoyable evening. Already drunk and angry with the banquet coming up. Aera selfishly hoped that he wouldn't make it to her chambers tonight.

With the third and final shots, Taris defeated Kentaro and the whole crowd was silent. Aera made no move. As glad as she was that her new friend had won, it also meant her husband had lost. 
Slowly the crowd began to applaud, and Aera was the first of the royal women to stand and applaud the victor with kept expression. Beside her her good-mother and good-sister rose and began clapping, their faces just as practiced. The three of them knew Kentaro would be angry. Was, angry, no doubt. 
They sat back down and Aera watched Taris as he drank from a skin from a theif she didn't recognize. The thought made her sad. She really did need to visit them again.

When the herald called that Taris would be up against Kasca, Aera felt free to exhale with relief. Kasca, hardly as drunk as his friend, would make a much better rival to the elf, though there was still no question as to who will win.

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Aera watched as Taris flew through his opponents with the ferocity of his arrows, finding it hard to hide her smiles. No one was going to like this, not at all; an elf kicking the asses of every high ranking knight in the lists. But Aera found it rather satisfying. To see an elf so brazenly do what she didn't have the courage to. 

She blanched when the herald announced he'd be shooting against her husband. Why, she couldn't be sure, but smiling and rooting for your husband when you want to see him taken down by elfkin... the fact that she wanted Taris to win bugged her. Not wifely thinking. 
"You need a walk." a smooth voice cooed behind her ear. Without looking, Aera knew who it belonged to and smiled. "Take one."

Thankfully, there was a small break in the tournament to move the targets and keep the contestants hydrated in the heat. Aera was glad for this. She stood, glancing behind her only to find her friend had vanished. She curtsied to the queen and princess, announcing that she needed a walk, and exited the dias.
It was a very short walk to a small space on the outside of the tournament tents, among some trees in the shade. Aera stepped into it and waited for a moment before she turned around. Standing before her was an unnaturally tall figure clad entirely in brown cloak; everything hidden. It was a customized hood that had flaps and netting in the hood so that the whole of the face could be hidden, while the wearer could still see through the lace, while no one could see in. 

Aera's face brightened in a drastic way as she smiled at her friend. "Enlor`Lei." She greeted him in elvish as he pulled the straps from his face. There was a face she'd missed dearly. His dark bluish grey skin was shining in the heat, the sweat beading on his forhead. His narrow red eyes smiled at her as he bent to embrace her. "My dear friend, I've missed you so much."

"And I, you, Treasure." Envy replied, pretending to wince as she pinched him for the nickname. "How long has it been since you've been to visit?" 
Aera's expression saddened. "Not since the week before my wedding." She glanced around to see who was watching. "It will be our anniversary in a few months time."
Envy's sweet face stared at her. "You're so unhappy." he observed sadly. He took her into his arms, resting his chin on her head. "I am so sorry, my friend. It pains me to see so much hurt in your face." 
Aera rested against him, working hard not to break down. It was easy when she was facing mortals all day, not to fall apart and cry. But in the arms of a beloved friend, it was very hard. "Thank you for not rubbing it in, the fact that I should have stayed and been with you."
He laughed, the sound echoing in his broad chest. "You still can. We can run away and I will bed you from here to Carantathraiel."
Aera stepped back and pinched him, once again smiling.
Envy's already cloudy face darkened. "Alas, my Treasure, I am not here just for social reasons." He took Aera's gloved hands in his, holding them close to him. "As much as I've missed you, I've come only to warn you."
A crease in her brow, Aera frowned. "About what?"
"Something dark lurks within the city. My sources all say the same. Though none can say what."
Her eyes widened. Envy had spies all over the city, he always knew what was going on. 
He shook his head, taking her chin in his hands. "Don't get all worked up, you know we're able to handle it." Aera breathed. "As soon as I learn anything, I'll get word to you." He turned his dark head as the herald cried from beyond the tents that the contestants were readying once more. "You'd better return. Go watch that horses ass of a husband of yours." 
Before she could object he bent and kissed her and in the blink of an eye he was gone, lost among the people and trees. Aera ran his words over in her head for a moment before hurrying back to her seat to watch Kentaro shoot against Taris.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

flip side.
i bet the grass is greener there.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

ok. I need to go running before it gets too late. Be back later.

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Inside again, Aera was met by another maid, one she didn't recognize, and motioned toward the dining hall. When Aera gave her a questioning mount, the maid explained. "The Royal Family will head down to the tournament together, my Lady. When the Prince is back downstairs, you'll head out."

Hiding the shock from her face Aera turned and followed the maid. So I'm actually part of the family, now? That was new. Normally they went out without her and she had to arrive alone. The Queen and Princess Risa were there already, chatting happily about which of the knights and contestants they thought would win. She approached them and stood silently off to the side, not wanting to interrupt them. Risa graciously invited her to converse with them. "Aera, tell me." She waved the elf over. "Who do you think will win?"

"My Prince, of course." She said automatically. Taris, of course. She knew an elf's skill in archery, and there was something about Taris that said he meant business.

Risa made a face. "I doubt that one. Kasca got him drunk again, so I'm putting my coin on Haxfur." Haxfur was one of the newer knights, and Aera could tell Risa had a sweet spot for him, and he her. He was rather charming, even she could admit. Ruddy hair and green eyes, he had stolen the hearts of many of the women, and of course he set his sights on the princess.

When Kentaro came downstairs, out of his hunting clothes and in his formal archery attire, he took Aera's arm and they went out. It was a short walk to the tourney grounds, where a large wooden structure rose, the back decorated in summer colored tapestries. Kentaro walked the women, Aera on his arm, to the dias in the center of the wooden platform, before taking his leave to join the other contestants. 
They waited for a bit before Lilith raised her arms and the crowd fell silent, some of the commoners cheering and calling her name from the far sides. "It is my joy to welcome you all to our summer archery tournament. May your hand aim true and your arrows fly straight!"
The women sat as the tournament herald began reading the lists. Aera sat and half listened, wondering who they'd set up against Taris.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

OH DEAR GOD

BAD JAY
*rinses eyes out*

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

With Taris gone, Aera looked down, sharing his opinion on the dress. I wonder what he would have thought of the one I put on first. She pursed her lips and stood, bothered at the fact that, for a moment, she'd wanted to change again, just to please him. Ridiculous. She left the library and headed downstairs to see what her husband had brought home.

Outside Kentaro was sitting on his horse in the courtyard, his hair silvery in the sunlight, his cheeks red with drink. He watched as his comrades jumped off their own horses and circled the cart that carried the great deer they'd brought down. He enjoyed hunting. There was something about chasing after a living creature, knowing it was going to be the last thing it did, if you had your way. 

Kasca, the dark haired, dark eyed young man who had the honor of being Kentaro's best friend, walked his horse to stand besides Kentaro's. "Here comes your wife." 
The prince looked, spotting the elf walking down the palace steps. He put a fake smile on his face as she stopped to speak to Risa. "I was hoping she would stay in during the day." he grumbled behind his smile. "She never liked the sun before."

"Oh, I'm sure she learned to put up with it for her love for you." Kasca leaned in. "If you let me tire her out at night, she would stay in all day, I promise you." Kasca leered at Aera, his mind still in hunting mode. 

"Easy, Kasca." Kentaro warned. He may have lost interest in the elf, but not enough to let others make jokes about pleasing her in front of him. He was the only one that got to touch her. 

"When was the last time you kept her up all night, my Lord?" Kasca asked, giving his friend a dark look. "You're never going to get a child off her if you never mount her." He sneered. "Or maybe its not her that's the problem."

"Enough." Kentaro snapped. He got off his horse and walked toward his wife and his sister, smiling at them both.

"Good hunting, I hope, Brother." Risa grinned as Aera curtsied before him.

"Shut it, Risa." He kissed Aera's hand and she smiled at him. Risa and her damn pokes at his whoring. Risa shrugged with a tilt of her head and walked off, leaving Aera and Kentaro alone. "How was your morning, Love?"

Aera thought about Taris, his hard body and his dark skin. And his eyes. Why couldn't she get over his eyes? "It was quiet." She stepped closer to him. "I was wondering if I might go and visit the others, soon. You know I miss them and love them." She added quickly, noticing his annoyed look. 
"I know, my sweet, but you're needed here." And letting you near that elf is out of the question. "I'm sorry, but no."

Aera kept her face blank as her heart sank, when one of Kentaro's drunk friends threw his arm around the Prince. "Morning, Princess!" He shouted, red faced. "Kenny, my boy, we'd best get upstairs. Your father's game starts soon. We want to be pretty for the *hic* pretty women."

With a nod to his wife Kentaro and the men went inside. Aera stood where she was, ignored by the group of servants bustling about to get the deer inside and prepared and the stable boys dealing with the horses. Her eyes were on the gate. She could leave. Right now. Go visit her friends in the tunnels and be back before the tournament. No one would notice her absence. 
Knowing Kentaro's wrath if he DID find out made her turn and head back into the palace, following the mud the men had dragged in.