Head Advisor's Chamber, Aurelia Vyncetta and Duncan De Reimer
After visiting the mercenary captain in the castle dungeons below, Aurelia decided to pay Duncan a visit, and inform him of what was to be expected. She proceeded down the stone corridor, returning to the hall of where the council chamber room was, the soles of her slippers padded quietly against the stone flooring. She headed for the heavy wooden door next, that was the Head Advisor's Chamber, without delay, she took note of Alenius standing guard outside his room.
"
Hello Alenius," Began Aurelia in a calm fashion, "
I came to tell Duncan that I've finished speaking to our new prisoner." The woman stood aside for her without a word, allowing her entry.
Without hesitating, Aurelia proceeded to enter by pushing the door open, to which she spotted Duncan at his desk. The look upon his face troubled her, he appeared...content? Or perhaps he was busy thinking of some devious plan? She cleared her throat immediately, and announced her presence.
"
I must apologize for barging in like this, but I wanted to tell you that I finished speaking with our new prisoner, the mercenary captain of the Steel Fist." She would say more once he acknowledged her. Aurelia stole glances of the room, as she always did when awaiting for a reply. The exquisitely crafted furniture bore marks of King John's insignia, a gift from the King to make Duncan's chambers more comely. A fire kindled in the hearth of the room to keep the cold from creeping. Her eyes travelled back to Duncan's desk, where she took note of a bottle of wine that sat uncorked. An eyebrow raised in surprise, was he drinking, then? Yet there were two cups? With someone else perhaps?
Duncan looked up to face Aurelia, "No need to apologize, your not interrupting anything after all. So what did our mercenary friend have to say for himself?" As Duncan spoke he refilled his goblet.
"Would you like a drink? It's just arrived in from Orog."
A softened smile appeared on her face as she realized that Duncan was in a rather, pleasant mood. She took a seat upon a high-backed chair positioned across from Duncan, and motioned for him to fill her goblet as well.
"
Well, I have some good news, and some bad news. The man is a very confusing person, he tried to intimidate me, though I believe he doesn't particularly understand my position here, yet. I told him, that if I find nothing faulty with his case in the morning, that he would be free to go. However..."
Aurelia hesitated to utter the next words. She appeared rather cross with her teeth biting worriedly upon her lower lip, as if she had to make an uncomfortable decision, and feared the coming results.
"
I also told Claus, that..." Again she paused in her speech, "
That we may desire to hire his men for when the other noblemen and women arrive, and he even gave us a price, if we wished to do so."
In truth, she worried that she had over-stepped her boundaries. Aurelia hoped that Duncan wouldn't see it that way. Though she had to give him credit for expanding her power, especially redirecting her to more important matters, than studying the stars.
Duncan raised an eyebrow, and was silent for a while. As he poured wine into Aurelia's goblet he considered the proposal made to him. This certainly wasn't something he had thought of previously. However the more he thought into it, the more it seemed like a good idea.
"This could work to our advantage. With the Steel Fist's mercenaries under our employment it will prevent the risk of them causing any further disruption in the city. Also having extra soldiers on hand to guard both the city and castle would certainly help secure the keep as well as keeping order in the city. Of course it will all depend on how much he ask for?"
Before Aurelia answered Duncan, she reached forward and grasped the goblet in her hand, and raised the goblet to her mouth, drinking with a thirst. She set the cup down before her, and turned her attention back to him.
"
Wine from Orog, eh? It has a rather fragrant taste, no? Thank you for sharing." She started, "The price, isn't as much as I feared. He asks for 50 gold, or 5,000 silver."
"
To be blatant, I did not originally intend to hire him, and his men. But yes, that was the very same conclusion I came to as well. With the Steel Fist, we would bolster our defenses in case anything goes awry, and a mercenary group such as theirs, is best placed under control, instead of running rampant through the streets of Nyhem."
Aurelia reached for the goblet again, and cradled it tenderly in her hands. She didn't mind the benefits of drinking beverages such as wine, mead, or ale. Though, wine was her favorite. She could already feel the warmth rising to her cheeks, flushing as red as a rose, it always happened when she drank.
"Indeed. If House Greensworth can at least do one right, it's wine. Though, I guess even then they're not the ones making it. Which reminds me, Jullon Greensworth has arrived for the meeting, which means I'm going to have to talk to him at some point." Duncan groaned. The very idea of having to deal with that man was tiring to say the least.
"Fifty gold seems a more than reasonable amount for that many mercenaries. What do we know about the man himself"? Duncan said as he once again refilled his goblet.
Standing beside a tall candelabra, Aurelia had drank more from the bottle of Orog wine with Duncan. The two of them became carried away in their conversation, until Aurelia had risen from her chair, and began strolling about the room, wine goblet in hand.
With one hand wrapped around the candelabra, Aurelia pointed a finger at Duncan in which her hand held the goblet, and could only laugh loudly before collecting her composure. Aurelia's black hair hung about her like ebony sheets, cascading over her shoulders and down her back; her face red, from liquor, and her eyes shining with tears.
"
I dare say now! Duncan, you are rather something else!"
She went to hide her eyes in the crook of her elbow, but instead, stumbled. Aurelia lost her balance, tripping over her feet, and came close to knocking over the candelabra, had it not been for a quick swipe of her hand. Spilled candle wax on the stone floor cooled as she stared at the wax, as if she had been stabbed. Glancing up in astonishment at Duncan, Aurelia began laughing even louder. She covered her mouth, managing to shake her head at her own clumsy behavior.
"
That's how you know you've had too much, when you almost set the Regent King on fire, eh?" Bellowed Aurelia.
Normally, the High Magister didn't partake much in wine, but it had been some time since she had tasted a drop. However, Aurelia felt to be in good company with Duncan.
"
You know, Duncan, I don't drink. Not much, really. Yet when I'm with you, I always find myself accepting a glass." Complimented the woman before him. She moved over to his desk, and sat upon the edge of it. A drunken smile appeared on her lips as she sat, gazing at Duncan steadily.
"
Tell me one thing... How do you really feel about your nickname, Duncan? The Snake doesn't sound so ambicable to me." Lifting her hand, she made a gesture, as if to reach out and caress his cheek, like that of a loved one, but her hand fell away, resting in her lap.
Duncan knew that he had greatly underestimated the potency of the wine, the fact that he was struggling to hold up his goblet was a obvious sign of this. However, after observing Aurelia nearly knocking over the candelabra it was clear that he was handling the alcohol better than she was. Yet Duncan couldn't help but smile, and even laughed at her comment about setting him on fire. Considering that she always seemed so serious, it was nice to see her loosen up. Duncan was slightly surprised as Aurelia reached out towards Duncan's cheek, however he did not pull away.
"Well, compared to the nicknames of some of the nobles in this city I suppose I should be grateful" Duncan said jokingly.
"Besides, I should not concern myself with mere rumours while there are far more important things to focus on". Duncan went quiet for a little while after finishing his sentence.
"But suppose it does make me feel..." Duncan paused, though he tried to hid it there was a clear look of upset in his eyes. "Well lets just say it's not the nickname I would have chosen for myself" Duncan said as he faked a smile.
"
Makes you feel what, Duncan? What nickname would you rather choose to be known as, if you had a choice?"
Aurelia suddenly questioned him with a curious notion in her head, despite her inebriated exterior. She rose from the desk's edge, and moved to the velvet chair, in front of his desk once more. There she sank into the chair with a heavy sigh as if she had worn herself out, finally, for her own sake. Aurelia's eyes sparkled with a glossy look about them as she turned her head about to gaze into the firelight.
It seemed as though the heat of the flame warmed her body, for she again rose from her chair, and dragged it across the floor, and placed it at an angle so that she may be warmed by its flames, but not overwhelmingly hot. With a long, slow blink of her eyes, Aurelia addressed him in a delicate voice.
"
Won't you come and join me by the fire here? Drag your chair over here, I've got an awful headache, and a chill in my heart. Your words will do me well over here?"
The high magister appeared restless in her state, as if the wine had made her feel heady, and unbalanced.
Duncan slowly dragged his chair along the floor over to the fire place. Once the chair was in place Duncan fell back clumsily into his chair and he bashed his head against the back of the chair. Duncan let out a groan of pain before he re adjusted himself back in his chair and stared into the fire place.
"How do you think it makes me feel? Unappreciated, disrespected, untrustworthy, everything you would associate with someone who goes by the name 'snake'" Duncan took a sigh before continuing, "When I was offered to be a member of the High Council all those years ago I dreamed of becoming someone who was loved by the people and respected by the nobles. How foolish and Naive I was back then" Duncan said with a spiteful laugh, "It doesn't matter what I do now, I will forever be known as 'the snake', take my advise Aurelia; if you ever get labelled with a title or nickname, make sure it is a good one, because it may as well be branded into you forehead".
Duncan soon realised his tone had become increasingly hostile, "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to take it out on you" Duncan said in a far smoother voice than he had been speaking with formally.
Despite the fact that Aurelia possessed an awful, dizzying headache, and the fact that she couldn't feel her face due to the potency of the Orog wine, she managed not only to listen to Duncan, but understood his words and the meaning behind them. She felt his pain vividly, and reached out hastily, grabbing his hand in hers, and gave it a tight, comforting squeeze.
"
Oh my liege, I know of the very pain with which you speak. I have kept to myself for my own reasons, all of which comes from the Isles wherein I learned magic. Whilst I was there, the older, more superior pupils taunted me relentlessly. They called me names, and taunted me like the pathetic school boys they were. They pulled horrible pranks on me, and said I was a Mountain Sheep Herder, implying that I was but a simpleton, and smelled of dung solely because I hailed from a reclusive mountain village in Raeldar."
Aurelia stopped in her tracks, and mournfully gazed into the fire place. As if she recalled something trivial, if one were to look close enough, they would see tears in the eyes of the high magister.
"
You mustn't apologize, Duncan, you were simply being honest." Breaking softly, even her voice hinted to the sadness she felt for the two of them.
"
You are no snake to me Duncan De Reimer."
"Thank you Aurelia. That really does mean something, truly. And if it's any consolation, you are far more than a mere 'Mountain Sheep Herder'. You are Aurelia Vyncetta, High Magister and member of the High Council". Duncan smiled once he finished. He returned a comforting hand squeeze to Aurelia.
Though the firelight cast a glow upon her face, Aurelia couldn't help but to blush at Duncan's kind words, slowly she drew her hand away from his and let out a small sob, covering her face with her hands.
"
I'm so afraid Duncan. I'm terrified at what could become of us. We could all be murdered if someone else rises to the throne." She stifled a cry as she buried her face further into velvet sleeve of her dress.
"
I'm afraid of dying." Aurelia whispered mournfully.
I'm afraid of dying The words were all to familiar. They had been the very same words he had spoken to his brother after their parents had been killed. Duncan turned to Aurelia and repeated what his brother had told him all those years ago.
"Do not fear death. For it is the one thing in life that is certain. Everyone dies sooner or later so don't worry about your death, worry about your life and living it the best you can. Besides I always viewed death to be nothing more than another path in the journey that is life."Duncan let out a loud sigh before continuing, "However I have no interest in taking that path quite yet, hence why I aim to win this inevitable war."
Aurelia could only lift her face, now wet with tears, from the crook of her elbow, and gazed upon Duncan with a peculiar smile.
"
Oh Duncan, you always know what to say."
She wiped the tears that had spilled from her cheeks delicately, with the back of her hand. Suddenly, a small hiccup escaped from between her lips.
"
Would you be so kind as to walk me back to my room, Duncan? My head is heavy with sleep from that cursed wine, despite how much I quite enjoyed it, I think it would be a damning look for me if they found me asleep in the halls." With pursed lips, Aurelia's face pleading with brows furrowed together turned to look upon Duncan.
"Very well, I will help you." Duncan said as he rose from his seat, Duncan staggered a bit before regaining his footing. He walked over to Aurelia before offering a hand to her. As Duncan helped her up, he let out an internal groan as he remembered that Aurelia's room was in the west wing, at the top of a very tall tower.
A Drunken Adventure through the West Wing, and up the Tower Stairs
With Duncan's arm about her waist to support her, the two exited the chamber room with much struggle. Though Aurelia was no heavy woman, the volume of her dress with the many folds prohibited her from walking with ease, for she frequently stepped on the hem of her dress, causing the high magister to trip, and stumble as she went. On several occasions she almost succeeded in bringing down Duncan with her.
The castle itself slept in peace through the night, not a soul stirred throughout the entire stone fortress, even the candelabras that lined the corridors had extinguished themselves, leaving the regent King and the high magister to wander through the darkness.
Much sooner than later as luck would have it, the stone archway to the steps of the tower appeared before them. Aurelia groaned outwardly upon the sight of the steps, for she knew they were numerous, and would be troublesome. With an exasperated sigh, she leaned against the wall, and put her foot forward, taking the first step of many.
"
Oh why did I ever desire to have my chambers at the top of these blasted stairs!"
She grabbed Duncan's hand and pulled him up the stairs with her. Aurelia had only taken a few more steps before she almost lost her balance again, which would have sent her backwards down the stairs, giving her a nasty concussion. She gave a loud cry as she startled herself, her arms flailing over head, until her fingers caught Duncan's coat sleeve.
However, she did not fall, and regained her balance once more. Already, her forehead began to bead with drops of sweat.
"
Oh that cursed wine, promise me that I shan't have another drop of it."
Aurelia mumbled more to herself than to Duncan. In the recess of her mind, she felt a sense of sheer gratitude for him agreeing to go with her. She would thank him some way for his act of kindness later, Aurelia would be certain of it.
"I could promise you that, but I get the feeling that it's a promise I can't keep." Duncan laughed.
The trip up the tower had been harder than Duncan had originally expected, the fact that Aurelia had almost pulled him down the stairs by accident was evident of this. However he didn't regret helping her; after all he didn't want her to end up killing herself just trying to get to her room. As Duncan approached Aurelia's door he let out a sigh of relief. Duncan opened the door before gently letting go of Aurelia, this had been the first time he had been in Aurelia's room and he couldn't help but look around in curiosity. The room was not at all what he had expected; he expected something filled with tomes and strange ingredients. Instead the room was rather simple and normal. Though Duncan could not deny that the view from the balcony was phenomenal.
“
Then I shall be forever doomed!” Laughed Aurelia at Duncan for his joke, in truth, that would indeed be a hard promise to keep.
She had left her room in an immaculate state, with her tomes, scrolls and journals stowed away upon her bookcase that sat adjacent to the door and her desk. Her bed was simple, with a waxed, wooden frame, and a canopy of black silk hung above her bed suspended to the wall with an iron frame. Her sheets were simple in design, made of wool, and green in colour, with two feather-down pillows. She had a bedside table, upon which a silver-handled mirror, and a candleholder sat with a short stub of a candle yet to be finished. There was a large armoire in which her dresses, and other vestments hung inside. The armoire depicted an artisanal, hand-carved, scene of a unicorn alongside a river bank; this piece of furniture was the most notable item in her room that was not simple in appearance. There was also a woven, changing screen in one corner, next to a water basin and mirror mounted to the wall. Last but not least, she had her desk overlooking the castle garden’s below, and a small, stone fireplace with two, velvet chairs surrounding it.
Aurelia released Duncan from her clutches, and strode over to a floor-length window, and opened it, revealing a balcony just outside. However, she chose not to venture out onto the stone edifice. Then, the high magister wandered over to the hearth in her room, and placed three logs from a metal holder, within the fireplace. She held out a hand above the logs and whispered an inaudible word. Instantly, fire leapt from her fingertips, and the wood ignited with ease. With a fire now heating her room, she proceeded to her bed, where she kicked off her shoes, flinging them halfway across her chambers as she went. She fell backwards onto her bed, and gave an exasperated sigh, and closed her eyes willingly.
“
Blast it all,” Aurelia began with a mumble, “
I still have to rid myself of this forsaken dress.”
She struggled to push herself up into a seated position again, until she succeeded, and remained leaning over her knees with her head bowed. She reached back with one hand, and tried to unfasten the knot she had tied at the nape of her neck to hold her stays in place, though she failed mightily.
Once more she turned to look upon Duncan, and with another pleading gaze, she elicited his help again.
“
I am sorry that I’ve tasked you with bringing me all the way here. But will you help me one more time?” Here, Aurelia rose on wobbly legs from her bed, and strode over to him.
“
Will you untie this damned knot? I can’t reach it.”
Duncan hesitated slightly before replying, "Oh...um of course" He said nervously.
"I am not someone to deny a lady in need of assistance." He continued with a slight blush. It certainly wasn't something that Duncan thought Aurelia would ever ask for help with. Despite the effects of the wine, Duncan managed to untie the knot through a rather fumbling attempt.
"Do you require any further assistance? If not then I will take my leave and will not intrude on your privacy further."
She could feel the brush of his fingers against her skin as he fumbled to untie the knot, once she felt her stays loosen, she turned about on weak legs to face him. Aurelia eyed the Regent King with glassy eyes, and she offered him a tired smile.
"
Aye, that will be all. Thank you so much for your help, milord. I am sorry if I've been a bother to you tonight. I still have to over see that court trial in the morning. I shall retire to bed now."
With haste, Aurelia embraced Duncan, wrapping her arms tightly about him, and then released him just as quickly. Her cheeks were flushed a deep shade of pink from the action, as hugging wasn't something she normally did.
Duncan returned the hug that Aurelia gave him, though it was just as awkward; like her, he had little experience with such an action.
"No bother at all, it was nice to have the company for the evening." Duncan said as he made his way towards the door. Once he was outside he quietly closed the door behind him before very carefully making his way down the tower stairs, trying his best not to slip; he didn't want to go down in history as the first De Reimer to be killed by a flight of stairs.
After Duncan departed, Aurelia was left alone with her thoughts, and her head pounded like that of a war drum. She reached for a pitcher of water on her bedside table, and filled a small, silver cup, to which she brought to her lips and drank readily.
Within moments, Aurelia had fallen asleep on her bed, still wearing her dress, as it was too much of a hassle to slip out of it. She would take care of it in the morning. And with heavy eyes, the High Magister drifted off to sleep for the coming day.
{A collab by
@TheDuncanMorgan and
@MacabreFox}
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