Broken Thrones (Open/Accepting)

[Sheeeep in Wolfs clothing]

"Fine, But contrary to your belief i truly didn't. Other wise i would have had the pleasure of being there myself." He snared kicking the glove out his way. He wasn't use to being talk that way but boy did if give him a burning desire to face that day. Should it arrive of course. He walked out the other end of the alley which brought him to a busy market street.

 

[Nine1122]

Lucian Dantes



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucian stopped walking when he heard what Severine said. Rage filled him in an instant but he did not act. He would not be able to fight with a clear mind. Lucian continued to walk to the Palace. He drew closer and was stopped by the palace guards.
"At least tell her I came by to speak with her." Lucian said realizing he would not be getting in at the moment. He turned and walked back to the street were he found a tavern and sat inside thinking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My people are as brittle as the land they live on."

Creamsicle Bunnies

 

[Dear_Moonchild]

Kaia growled to herself, annoyed at the fact they'd detected her. Normally she was light and swift, hardly making a sound, but having been gone for so long made her weak when it came to the driness of this land. It made her loud and her confidence didn't allow her to notice. 'Dammit' she cursed herself, scurried up uncaring of the pebbles that clanked their ways down the side of the building, and jumped from it with ease.

She wanted to leave; to go somewhere with a lot of water rather than to stay here. Of course she was loyal to her land. She just could not thrive in it well with her mutation and power of water; but she had to stay. If war was upon them, she'd be a coward to run.

And so she sat against the wall of the building she'd been sitting atop with one knee propped up and her arm resting on it, waiting. At least they weren't going to kill her; and then she laughed to herself at the thought, remembering a old saying.  

[Greedy Fat Cat]

"Do not implore any further. It sickens me to hear your hideous voice," Eureka murmured, glancing at the sheets of parchment in her hands. She did not look upon her assistant's face, who looked a little hurt by the insult. He looked down, slightly defeated while the other attendants watched him sympathetically. He was rather new at his job, so he didn't know of the Queen's sharp tongue. Rather mercifully, she tossed the papers to the floor. "Leave," she ordered and he quickly gathered the sheets and left. Eureka watched him, her dark eyes a little bored, before she turned, taking a few steps to her decorated seat. Her throne was ornate and intricately designed, a dragon's body making up the frame of the chair as its head lay under her right hand as an arm rest. She crossed her legs before waving her hands. Quickly, maidens covered in satins and intricate golden threads came before her. They lowered their heads, bowing to her, and came to her side. They handed her pipe to her, already packed, before ebbing away, leaving the room. She lit the pipe, smoking it out of an unhealthy habit. She waved away the rest of her attendants, wishing to be alone with her smoking. They headed her demands greatly, leaving her alone. She sighed, leaning lower in her seat.


"My Lady." A young woman clad in royal armor stepped forward. The grand doors of the throne room closed behind her. "There is news from Heidegger and the outer guard," she stated fearlessly. That was always a reason why Eureka favored Mae so much. She, unlike the majority of her servants, was a proud and brave being. Eureka tilted her head, exhaling the smoke slowly as she listened while in thought. "Tell me of Heidegger. The other news can wait." The female knight quickly stepped forward, her armor making small noise as she handed Eureka a packet of parchment. Busily, she scanned the papers quickly before glancing up. "It disappoints me that Heidegger has not found any traces of the dragon folk yet. Send word to keep searching. And to make haste of it. Heidegger knows very well not to keep the impatient Queen waiting," she commented, taking another puff of her pipe. Mae nodded, stepping forward to take the packet from the queen's hands.

"My Lady. The other news. There has been word from the outer guard that both the North's and the South's kings have breached the Ash Lands' boundaries. They seemed to have made contact and their aids have been noted to have been in a battle. We have left them and will leave their kingdoms to dispose of their bodies. The Kings have otherwise made it known that they are headed here to seek an audience with you. They have not caused any harm, other than to have taken a horse from a tavern owner, but they are near palace walls by now-"

"My Lady Fortuna!" A guard, one that Eureka did not know by name, entered hurriedly. "The royal guard have just been informed that King Lucian of the North seeks to make an audience with you. He awaits at a tavern."

Eureka frowned, disliking the loudness about the room. She sat up straighter, uncrossing her legs. "To go so far as to wait at a tavern...So...Unroyal-like. But what do you expect from a man who doesn't have an ounce of royal blood in him?" She asked rhetorically. The guard looked at her a little confused.

"And what of Severide? If he approaches the wall or the royal guard, allow him to enter and let him wait in a parlor. I do not want him wandering around in my country." She stood, stretching her legs as pointed to the door with her free hand. "And go inform a messenger to retrieve the King of the North. Send some escorts as well. We wouldn't want our neighboring kingdoms to think we have no hospitality." She sat back down, taking another puff of her pipe as the guard bowed and left. Mae also made a loyal bow and left the Queen to her solitude.
Alas, Eureka was left to her curiosity. She knew of the rising tensions of the North and South, but what brought them here to middle county? Eureka knew very well that they wanted something from the Ash Lands. But whether they knew it or not, Eureka was not easy to favor.

 

[Nine1122]

Creamsicle Bunnies

Lucian Dantes



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucian sat in the tavern writing letters to Stark's Family. They were of course the formal notes. Lucian would have to go to their house and give them to the family knowing what would happen. He always did. It showed he could sympathize but every time he did his heart grew colder. To his surprise a messenger arrive with an some escorts. They quickly filled him in on what the Queen had ordered and he handed then his weapons. She would certainly not take nicely to an armed King approaching her.

Once he had given them his weapons the escorts lead him to the Queen. Upon entering the room he looked around. "It's good to see you again."
He did not bow, it was proper for subjects to bow but he was not a subject. He did however show slight respect by taking of his cold silver crown. Even the lowest people knew never to wear a crown in a kingdom that was not yours. "From the look on your face you know I am here to ask something of you, or you recently used a pipe that did not meet standards." Lucian joked about the last part. He often made jokes when meeting Eureka. He was not raised to be proper and did not know how to act around her. With Severide he knew to hate and disrespect the man. With her, he knew little.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My people are as brittle as the land they live on."

 

[Greedy Fat Cat]

Eureka blew a wispy breath of smoke into the air, her expression a little less than not amused. She uncrossed her legs and recrossed them, her eyes narrowing as she watched the king enter. Despite his respectful actions, there was an air about him...Eureka did not like it. Even still, she did not say anything.
While Lucian attempted to be jovial, Eureka did not take light of him. He was, after all, wanting something of her. She stood then, pipe still in hand. She slowly stepped down the seven steps that led to her throne, watching Lucian with mild caution. The royal guard stood by the door, even more so wary of the king's intentions.

"While I haven't seen you in a long while since my crowning, I cannot say the feeling is mutual. After all, you've come to ask of me a favor." She raised her pipe a little, and a maiden from a side door behind a curtain immediately took it, taking a long, deep bow. Eureka stood before Lucian now, though several years younger and a few inches shorter, still had a grandeur about her that was on par with Lucian's aura. She placed a hand on her hip, giving him a bemused look.

"The ash is the residue of the dragons of lore. This is what constitutes the Ash Lands. And one too many have these lands aided in a favor for yours, oh 'Dragon of the North'," she murmured. She turned with a sigh, going back up the stairs to her throne. She sat there, a little tired. "However, I will hear your case."

 

[Dear_Moonchild]

The rattling of armor had caught Kaia's attention and she watched as guards entered the tavern just near her. She did not move, nor make her presence known, just simply observed as they came out with the King of the North.

Quickly, she turned her face away and stood, her white hair whisking around her as she made her way down familiar paths of her childhood. Where it lead her was her childhood home, still unoccupied, but she dare not go in. Instead, she meandered past, down small paths in between stone houses, and close to the edge of the border.

Eventually, she sat in the sun alone and began humming to herself when someone passed by.

"Aye, Kaia!" A mans voice exclaimed, "Why, I haven't seen you since the war! Practicing, as always, eh?" He was an old man with thinning grey hair and wrinkles all over, but he was a nice man and as helpful as any. He played a big part in Kaia's childhood. She was about to open her mouth to say something, but he only continued on. "You had such great power, 'tis a shame you weren't recognized for it; But I s'pose that's the life of a normal town folk, hm? Nothin' you can do 'bout that, sadly." His accent was thick and twangy, but still he continued. "though, bein' just a regular town folk ain't always so bad." He glanced down at her then looked back up at the sky as he took a puff from his pipe and blew a smoke ring. "Tell me, what'd become of the quiet girl I used to know?"

He offered her his pipe, but she politely declined. "I don't smoke, good man." She smiled, "But I do like my alcohol. Anyways, I haven't done much." She didn't want to tell him of her work. She killed men for money, though they were all bad they were all important. "My name had gone around place to place, but I thought it was a good time to visit my home land."

"And a good thing, too!" His face had gone serious. "The King of the North AND the South are here. What business, I haven't any clue, but it shant be good; I'll tell you that." His pipe was out and he'd stuffed it in his pocket, "bet'er get ta practicing, my lady. Who knows what lay on the path before us though I bid you a good farewell." With that, he walked away and left her by herself. Little did he know, she'd followed the kings just moments before.


 

[Sheeeep in Wolfs clothing]

Lawrence reached the town Severide had ridden to. God he was out of breath. Never in all his life was there that much walking. The stumbled into the busy streets being wary cautious. Severide appeared next to him. "May i think i should congratulate you." Severide said patting his friend on the back. Lawrence half smiled. Injured as he may be he was more tired then he was in his life. They walked to the nearest bench.
"Stay here and rest. I think i might go see the queen today." He added brushing off imaginary dust.

"Well i'll see you later Lawrence. Wait outside the palace and i will call for you when i need you." He said walking off. Hopefully Lawrence would be in better shape. He couldn't wait not even for his advisor.He walked up the palace steps rather slowly savoring the moment. It was a nice land but not as good as his own. As he reached the palace doors the guards stopped him for a brief moment before a servant came and walked him to the parlor.
"Please inform the King of the north that i do hope he keeps him promise." He said to the servant as she shut the door leaving him alone in the room.

 

[Nine1122]

Lucian Dantes



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucian laughed lightly. "You forget, it was an Ash Land sorcerer who cursed the North hundreds of years ago, your side gave me the Mutation that earned that title." Lucian smiled slightly as scales covered his hand. "This is your fault." The scales faded and he returned to business.
"Look, you could say I need a favor or you could say I am doing you a favor. If you help me defend my Kingdom and defeat the South I will do the same to help you if the dragons return. Not only that but think about it, if the South takes the North nothing will stop them from turning their full attention to the Ash Lands. This Kingdom has aided mind before and look, your still here. What happens when you don't?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My people are as brittle as the land they live on."

 

[Greedy Fat Cat]

Eureka frowned, shaking her head. This talk was not favorable to hear. She gave him an indifferent look. "Hmm? You dare bring my father's dabbling into play?"
She pondered this for a little, playing with a piece of her fair, dark hair before eying the king once again. "What is this talk of dragons? My scouts have been scouring every piece of land in my grasp for those creatures that we call dragons and have found none. You speak as if you know they might return." She tilted her head, standing again.

"However, there is no guarantee that you and your country will not do the same. While you owe us great, there is nothing surmountable than a man's greed," Eureka stated, beginning to pace. "You belittle my country if you think we cannot defend our own against any foe. I'm not used to insults from you," she added. She paused in her step, glancing at him.

The doors opened, and Mae again reappeared. She quickly approached the Queen and knelt. "My Lady. The King of the South has arrived. He has also sent word to his lordship." Eureka was curious and waved her hand. "Proceed."
"The King of the South wishes to mention to the King of the North his promise is to be kept."

Eureka raised a brow. A promise? Between the north and south? She turned to Lucian. "You ask of an alliance and yet you can make a promise with your enemy? Surprising, Lucian, since you've hated that rat Severide ever since he let his minions rape your wife." Eureka surely had no bounds in her speech. "Nonetheless, I am not my father. You know very well our aid was only out of pity."

 

[Nine1122]

Creamsicle Bunnies

Lucian Dantes



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucian listened to her speak. "In the North winters are becoming slightly warmer, summer as well. We have searched for the cause and we know it is not natural. I believe the dragons are coming back. You have searched your land but not the North or the South I think-" Lucian was cut off when Mae entered. He was slightly shocked when she delivered the King of The South's message.
"What... no I didn't-" Lucian fell silent when she mentioned his wife. He was silent for a very short time before his rage overtook him. The Dragon of The North put his hand back and his sword flew from the guard's hand into his. He was somewhat glad the guard stayed in the room. They were to far to stop him and his actions would likely take the Queen by surprise. He was never one to act so rashly. Something was clearly different about this day. Sword in hand he brought the blade up to the Queens throat as scaled covered his face and his eyes turned a dark yellow. The scales faded but his eyes remained the same. He had grabbed the back of her neck so she could back away then he pressed the blade to her neck tighter then he had before.
"Don't you ever speak about her again. Don't you even think about her around me or so help me I will end you... The only promise I made to him was that one day sooner or later my sword would be to his neck and I would hurt him. Death is to good for people like him. That was my only promise." Lucian had likely just thrown out any chance of peace but he was here because his generals wanted him to be. The Wall would protect his kingdom if both armies tried to get in. He could not control himself in a rage like this one. His breath alone gave off a chill than made the whole throne room ten degrees colder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My people are as brittle as the land they live on."

 

[Dear_Moonchild]

Kaia had decided to take the old mans advice and began walking around her home land, taking paths she remembered in the back of her mind with her arms out at her side. It was a struggle trying to get used to the air in this land and every time she began to gather water, it would disperse back into the air. It was frustrating and she could hardly believe she once used her power in such a place.

She walked through crowds without paying attention to them. She just concentrated on her task and it's not as if the people would think anythin weid about it.

Water came together around her, slowey gathering into a ribbon twirling around her and it was gtting thick, too. Finally she did it without breaking! Then she made the ribbon of water shoot around her and up into the air, stopping repeateding to shoot balls of water, one after another, into the air. Then when they came raining down, they molded back into a slow movng ribbon around her. If only she had someone, or something, to practice with. Someone that could actually help her, maybe even teach her a few new things.  

[Greedy Fat Cat]

Eureka paused, caught by the surprise and let herself be caught in this man's grasp. She made no move to stop him, no other move at all except to raise her hand once guards began to swarm into the increasingly cold throne room. She watched his eyes indifferently. It wasn't that she had insulted Lucian, he was just overly sensitive over that topic. It disappointed her that he was still emotional over her, and for that she found his weakness. She kept quiet, until Mae made the signal to back off. Eureka obviously had this under control.

"King Lucian, you merely misunderstand me. Just because I questioned you and your request does not mean I will out right become hostile. Yet a promise is still a promise, no less," she replied, raising her hands now. The room stopped in its chill. "Your rash behavior disappoints me, Lucian. Here I thought you came here wisely asking me of a premeditated decision, and now your inability to get over that day has made you react unfavorably, especially to someone you ask peace of. How do you presume I respond?"

Eureka shrugged, now the room warming against the chill. This was Eureka's domain, even if she had not moved from her spot. "Killing me won't get you what you want. It surely won't make you feel any better either. In fact, it'd sort of make you like him. So put down my knight's sword and talk diplomatically. You have an offer in mind, don't you?"

While the threat was insulting, she admired his gutsiness to approach her in such a fashion. As long as he offered something of value, Eureka would keep listening.

 

[Nine1122]

Lucian Dantes



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You may not become hostile but as long as he is here I can not promise you that I will not be. The only reason I am here is because my advisors believe that I am better off with your help then without it. We hold the possibility dragons may be in the north. This is supported by a single cave. Deep into the heart of the north. Not the center, but in the battlefield that the first war was waged on." Lucian spoke a riddle so he did not reveal where the cave was. "This cave is never surrounded by ice, or snow, or even water, just hot stones. Some say it is so cold it burns you, but I know the feeling, every time my skin changes I feel it. There is something in that cave, dead or alive, its in there. Something that will change this world. Sadly no one can get it. The heat would kill you before you are close enough. Plus the trip there is dangerous. The North was not built on only flat land and no magic seems to allow entry." Lucian said lowering the sword. He tossed it back to the guard and stepped back once.
"My empire is rich, we have more money then you could spend, but you are not one to be interested in coin are you. The cave is all I have left to offer and it is not something you can simply walk into. To take the cave is to greet death." Lucian looked towards the floor. "I should go now... I have nothing to offer aside from my word that the North would be at your aid should you fall upon times like ours... and crops... I have lots of those to offer to." Lucian said as he turned and began walking out. His mind was plagued by the cave and he regretted bringing it up. In truth there was probably one in the Ash Lands and one in the South. He had simply found his first. The Queen had a kingdom that had likely spread very far, she need only continue the search. When word stopped arriving. They will have found the cave. He reached the door and stopped. "I will be needing my sword back..." Lucian told the guard he gave his weapons to. The guard left to retrieve them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My people are as brittle as the land they live on."

(I figured we would need something big after the war so the possible return of Dragons seems good.)  

[Greedy Fat Cat]

Eureka stopped warming the room once Lucian left. However, he mind was elsewhere. The cave had piqued her interest quite high, almost greedily so as she thought of the countless things that could be in that cave. The prospect of dragons was astoundingly alluring for her, ad she desperately wanted her hands on it. Money also made her more inclined. Eureka wanted it, and surely Lucian knew it. However, the idea of setting up an alliance sounded displeasing for her, for in the last few years of her reign, she had chosen isolation after the attack on the North. She frowned at the disposition she was in, sitting in her throne with a troubled expression.

Mae bent to retrieve her swor d, watching the King of the North leave with much of the same dignity as when he entered. That was rare, being that the Beloved Queen of Ash was usually someone who made others feel bad. She raised a brow before looking at the Queen's unsettled look. Mae turned to leave, commenting to one of the guards to get the King of the South. Surely, a meeting with the King of the South may conclude Eureka's decision.