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#Post#: 380646--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: guest1268 Date: December 26, 2014, 11:37 pm
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She smiled at his laugh, glad that he was regaining his strength
but she frowned in reply to what he said about knowing at a
young age.
"I never expected my father to do such a thing," she admitted.
"I just thought that he was friends with your parents and that
was why we stayed here during the summers."
It all made complete sense now but it didn't then.
Essie slowly digested his response, still half not believing
that he didn't hate her. She was relieved to finally know the
truth. Without knowing how to respond, she only nodded and
stared off in space.
All of those years, she had despised him for hating her when he
had merely done it as a defense mechanism. How could she make up
for all of the wasted time?
"I wouldn't have hated you. It's not like you chose this," she
whispered, glancing at him.
She took notice of the blue breathing life into his eyes. Even
before when they were colorless, she had been left wanting but
now she couldn't look away.
The kiss was not expected and she didn't think it through before
she pressed her lips to his. Her lips were soft and smooth
against his. If he stopped it, she would understand but she
couldn't deny the desire any longer. All she could think about
was sating the demanding ache that drove her out of her comfort
zone.
Her hand laid on his chest as her hair tickled his forehead. It
was evident that she was holding back due to his condition. The
tiny inlets on either cheek played peekaboo at subtle pucker of
her lips. With restraint, her lips fit between his, holding his
bottom lip captive.
It would be a lie to say she had never wanted to know what it
would be like to kiss him.
Essie never lost control of her powers but she had never been in
close quarters with a man either.
She lowered her body into the bed only to better reach him. As
she went, her toes brushed his ankles. The skin to skin contact
created a fog in her mind, nuzzling her thoughts. She reveled in
the kiss, even if it lasted a few seconds.
#Post#: 380649--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: Renegade Date: December 27, 2014, 12:20 am
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So she really had no idea... Despite the fact that Jasper had
assumes as much, it was still somewhat surprising. She was a
brilliant woman, but then, she was also a bit naiive, and
gullible at times. She was too trusting of their parents, which
was what lead her to be taken by surprise with all of this. Her
words were comforting, a reminder that her.. No, THEIR
predicament wasn't his fault. It was a fate that the two of them
were born into.
Suddenly, and without warning, Essie's lips pressed against his,
stealing the air from his lungs, and jumpstarting the
enchantment in his eyes all at once. Widened eyes began to glow
a bright orange, but once he located his missing breath, they
turned to a warm pink, and his lips puckered, kissing her back.
His kiss wasn't full of energy, however the feeling behind it
was clear. His neck extended as she fell down onto the bed to
meet him, their bodies now closer than they had ever been.
When he pulled away, she would see the color in his eyes
clearly. He had always tried to hide them from her, particularly
when they showed hints of this pink, which was indicative of a
deep attraction. Even though she had no way of knowing that, he
never wanted to risk her finding out. But now there was no point
in hiding it. "It took you long enough..." He joked weakly,
realizing in full that all the time they had wasted was his
responsibility. He had intended to return to his room when his
strength returned, but he soon found himself fading out of
consciousness once more. They could discuss the rest in the
morning, for in a few moments, he would once more be lost to the
world...
#Post#: 380658--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: guest1268 Date: December 27, 2014, 12:59 am
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She found herself dazed when he had returned the kiss. Her
stomach fluttered with butterflies that were totally cliche but
described the feeling to perfection. His weakened state left it
impossible for the kiss to be prolonged and when he had ended
the kiss, she opened her eyes only to meet the pink hue of his
gaze.
[center]҉҈҈҈҈Early
Bird҉[/center]
The castle was still sleeping when she had sneaked out of her
room. The cobblestone steps leading down to the kitchen sent
shivers up the vertebrae of her spine. Without the servants to
insist on her allowing them to cook, she happily dug out fresh
eggs and sausage. After cooking a considerable plate size, she
fetched a slice of bread and a small butter dish and then went
to return to her room before Jasper woke up.
By the time she had finished, the sunrise had began to peek
through the stained glass windows, casting rays of rainbows onto
the floor at her feet. Servants were starting to rise and the
guards were just switching shifts. Passing the foyer, she heard
the queen's familiar voice and decided to stop to tell her that
her son was awake when she heard her say something that caught
her off guard.
"-what I said," she growled furiously in a whisper. "I do not
need you to remind me of what I said! Now, follow my directions
and be ready by the night of the ball and then lead your
attack."
"What of their engagement?" a male voice asked.
Essie heard shuffling then a pause.
"What about it? I know what my son wants and he wants large
kingdom, not a inept princess. Now leave me."
Hurrying, Essie quietly ran down the hall and around the corner
before she was able to get caught. She leaned against the wall,
trying to get a grip on the situation. Jasper knew about this!
That was why he was acting so nice to her! Angrily, she slammed
down the plate, causing it to shatter at her feet with the
remnants of the breakfast.
One thing was for sure, she had to strategize her next move
carefully. If she let on that she knew, she risked putting
herself in danger. That meant, she couldn't up and leave but she
also couldn't send a messenger to warn her father since the
queen probably had them reading her mail.
Essie left the plate, and went to her room to bathe and get
clean clothes on. She wouldn't lose to them.
#Post#: 380809--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: Renegade Date: December 27, 2014, 6:45 pm
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Renegade awoke in the morning to find himself alone. He looked
around to see if Essie may have been elsewhere in the room, and
once he determined that she was gone, he got out of bed. His
muscles seemed to be fully functional now, but he seemed to be
still a bit wobbly, perhaps due to only just waking up.
He made his way down the hall into his own room, thinking of the
night before with Essie the whole way. He kissed her... Even
slept in the same bed with her! 24 hours ago that was a virtual
impossibility? Wait... 24 hours? He never asked her low long he
was out! He would ask her whenever he saw her next. There were
things that needed to be discussed. Like, of course, they were
fiancee's but was that all? Beyond that, were they friends,
dating now? What?
He sent a servant to heat his bath as he picked out some
clothes, and then. He made his way into his bathroom. An hour
later, he was washed, dried, dressed, and on his way to find
Essie. Perhaps she had returned to her room by that point, so he
would start there. He proceeded to use the "knocking device"
this time, waiting for her to answer before entering. "Morning."
He said as he walked in, an Airy light blue and calm yellow
commanding his eyes as he looked at her. For once, he could
admit to himself that she was beautiful. It was definitely a
nice improvement...
#Post#: 380834--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: guest1268 Date: December 27, 2014, 7:33 pm
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Essie was in the middle of bathing when he had arrived. Her
head turned to look over her bare shoulder at him but she did
not move to cover herself up. Instead, she stood up and grabbed
a towel by the tub. Her backside glimmered with droplets of
water as she went. When she wrapped the towel around herself,
she turned and looked at him with a smile that didn't register
within her gaze. In strings of curls, her hair fell onto her
cheeks as her back bent in order to retrieve the clothes on the
floor.
"Morning," she greeted without glancing up at him. "Did you
sleep well?"
Dropping the towel, she began to dress with her back still
turned to him. She did not mind if he stared, in fact, her slow
movements were an invitation for him to. The woman turned to
him again and smiled once she was fully dressed.
"Are you feeling better?" she asked.
The morning events still weighed on her mind and she became
angered but she quickly squashed it by biting her lip; or at
least attempted to. Essie stood with her hands on her hips and
her gaze on his. The dress she wore was dark blue with a long
ribbon that tied around her waist and looped into a bow at her
back. It may have complimented her curves and successfully
highlighted the cleavage that stuck out from under the
v-neckline, but she preferred to dress like a man. It was
easier to walk and ride horses in pants instead of a skirt that
she had be careful about showing too much skin. The attire was
the last thing from her mind now, however.
Her fingernails scraped the palm of her hand as it formed a
fist at her side. Essie remained silent as she waited on his
reply, secretly wishing he would give her enough reason to pour
cold water down his shirt.
#Post#: 380836--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: Renegade Date: December 27, 2014, 7:59 pm
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Something was odd about Essie... The night before, she had been
bashful to even share a bed with him, and yet now she was
perfectly comfortable presenting herself to him in the nud e?
Even if it was only from behind, it wasn't characteristic of
her. Even though, the view was glorious, Jasper decided it best
not to look, turning his back and focusing multicolored eyes on
the opposite wall.
"I did." He told her. He felt strange being in the room as she
dressed. They weren't wed yet, after all... "I can come back
later if you want... But she continued to talk with him as if
everything was normal. This was DEFINITELY not normal... "I feel
much better. I wanted to apologize for being such a burden." He
said. "You shouldn't have had to watch over me like that. Thank
you..." Once he was confident she was fully dressed, he turned
back to face her. "We're supposed to start preparing for the
Ball today. I was planning to disappear before they could find
me. But I thought I should ask what you wanted to do. I owe you
at least that much..."
#Post#: 380889--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: guest1268 Date: December 27, 2014, 11:39 pm
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"You're not a burden," she whispered, finding his sincerity off
putting.
Essie didn't know what to think but she couldn't continue the
charade with the way he was acting. She sat on the bed and put
her face in her hands, trying to piece everything together. Was
the queen really using him with his knowledge or was she merely
using him as a pawn? And even if he wasn't aware, would he
really believe her if she told him? There was a lot at stake,
including her father's safety. The woman needed to decide who to
trust and fast before it proved to be detrimental. Finally, she
looked up from her hands and nodded.
"I would love to get out," she said.
Essie was in need of time and fresh air to figure things out and
maybe along the way, she could fish for some answers from him.
"Let's go," she replied.
Essie left her room and went down to the stables, making certain
that he was following on the way. The horse she had used the
other night was not available so she picked a chestnut colored
one and saddled him. She remained silently and was seemingly on
edge. Every now and then, she would glance over her shoulder and
even at him as if preparing to be attacked.
Before they could leave, the man who had injured her the other
night arrived with liquor lingering on his clothes.
"Essie," he murmured, stalling by the entrance of the stables.
"I have been trying to find you."
He looked at Jasper, realizing that they were not alone. His
Adam's apple moved as he swallowed and looked back at Essie.
"I'm sorry for the other night," he apologized.
His hands shook visibly as he shoved them into his pocket. With
a small smile, she shook her head.
"It's okay," she replied.
"No, I should have been more careful but I-..."
His voice... Damn it! Essie knew it had been him in the foyer
with the queen. He had been her trainer, someone she had
trusted! In spite of the tight fabric of the dress, she somehow
had produced a small dagger.
She leaped forward, catching him by surprise. The force of her
weight knocked him back onto a bale of hay, sending particles of
dirt into the air. Every movement she made was precise and
effective. Soon, her knees had pinned his arms and her left hand
held the knife against his throat.
"Tell me what you know," she demanded.
He shook his head and vocally denied his part in the planned
assassination. It wasn't until she drew blood with the blade
that he finally caved. He told her everything pertaining to the
queen's plan to attack and take over Essie's kingdom. Even if
Jasper was apart of it, she no longer cared. She was overcome
with grief and being betrayed by her trainer.
Had he meant to harm her?
"Please, Essie, I didn't have a choice! Please, have mercy like
I did you the other night!"
Her heart raced as she stared down at the man. She knew that she
couldn't bet her father's life on this man because she knew
where his loyalties lie. Essie could feel the weight of the
man's soul on the dagger and knew that she had a difficult
choice to make.
In one swift motion, she took his life and felt the warmth of
his blood seep onto her hand. She may have been a virgin but the
sin she had just committed stole an innocence from her that no
man could have in bed.
#Post#: 381050--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: Renegade Date: December 28, 2014, 1:27 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
It was clear that something was bothering Essie, but it was
anyone's guess as to what. Words were trapped in Jasper's throat
as looked at his bride-to-be, with her face buried in her hands
as if she had just lost her best friend. Despite the fact that
something was clearly bothering her though, Jasper was glad when
she said she would leave the castle with him. Maybe she would
open up a bit if they got away.
Her behavior was erratic, even as they made their way to the
stables; Paranoid even. Inquisitive purple eyes watched as she
continuously checked around her, as if worried about getting
caught. Had she lost her nerve?
He had just managed to saddle Shadow when one of the combat
trainers arrived and spoke with Essie. He was apologizing for
the other night. Had he done that to Essie? When did she have
time to train? It seemed it was an accident though.
But then Essie suddenly charged him with a dagger she had
concealed on her person. Was she really angry over him injuring
her? No there was something deeper going on! Orange eyes watched
intently, at the scene taking place, though Jasper made no move
to interfere. That was, until the Trainer said something about
his mother's plan to assassinate her father and take command of
her kingdom.
He stepped forward to object; To say that his mother wouldn't do
such a thing. But in the back of his mind, he didn't feel it was
above his mother, who was prone to keeping secrets, and using
underhanded tactics. He needed to know for sure though.
He winced, and looked away as Essie tore the trainer's throat
open. His eyes forced closed, were filled with many unsettling
colors. He exhaled deeply, before speaking up. "We should go see
your father..." He said. He knew that confronting his mother
would do no good. At the very least, they could convince him to
cancel the event, or at least increase his security.
He tossed Essie a rag to clean her hands; Hands that would never
truly be clear of the stain of blood. It was at that moment that
he wondered if his mother's hands were truly clean either; If
that was the fate of a Queen... He hopped atop his horse, and
with Essie behind him, took off toward the East, toward Essie's
home. At full speed it would still take a considerable amount of
time to get there. However, when they arrived at the gorge just
outside of the Kingdom, a squadron of Guards on horseback were
there, as if this move had been expected. The Captain spoke up
when Jasper came to a stop. "I'm sorry, your majesty. The Queen
has instructed me not to allow you to skip out on your
responsibilities today. I am to escort you back to the Palace."
Dammit! It was unlikely that the Queen would know exactly where
to set up the squadron, unless the Trainer's words had been
true. And if that was the case, they would never make it to warn
Essie's father. He looked toward Essie, for any ideas she may
have. At this point, the most important thing to him was
protecting her, and that included protecting his would be
father-in-law.
#Post#: 381095--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: guest1268 Date: December 28, 2014, 2:55 pm
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The blood in her veins had turned icy cold as she stared down at
the corpse beneath her. For a millisecond, it appeared as if she
may cripple under the reality of what she had done. But she
pulled herself together and stood up with a blank expression.
Before taking the cloth, she drug the body outside, careful to
stay out of the view of others and hid him in bushes. After, she
cleaned up the blood and wiped the knife off then her hands.
Thankfully, Jasper remained silent about what she had done.
She merely gave a short nod at his suggestion and rode to her
father's kingdom. When they had arrived, guards were blocking
their path. Hopefully, this was enough to convince him of his
mother's wrongdoing. With question marks in his gaze, he looked
at her as if expecting that she was capable of making the right
decision with the frame of mind she was in. He had been correct.
Essie giggled and shook her head. "See, Jasper? I told you we
wouldn't be able to sneak away today. I guess you will have to
work, for once."
Kicking the side of the horse with her heels, she ushered the
poor, worn out horse forward. When they had reached a stream a
considerable amount of distance between the kingdoms, she
stopped and let the horse drink.
"He would not have believed us anyways," she whispered, knowing
her father.
The king would have just written their words off as a sick ploy
to escape the engagement. That or he would have laughed at the
idea of anyone trying to defeat him.
Half of her wanted to ask Jasper if she had done the right
thing, in order to assure herself that she was not damned for
the life that had been taken by her hands. Yet, even if he did
try to console her, she knew she wouldn't believe it; not when
dried blood still clung to the underneath of her nails. Also,
she was well aware of the wrong in th re decision made but she
did not regret it. She now knew what she was capable of and that
was what bothered her the most.
There was no time to dwell in the past. They needed to devise a
plan.
"I think we need to just be prepared the night of the ball. No
one will listen to us or believe us. You will be safe," she
said. "If anything, they will just try to kill the king and I."
She swallowed back bile and bent down by the waterside and
scrubbed her hands, ridding herself of the remaining blood.
"Sorry that I had suspected you," she murmured.
Essie finally stood and wiped her hands on the skirt of her
dress. Bags could be seen under her eyes and their color were
dull. Wisps of hair fell around her, as the winter wind cooled
her forehead.
So many thoughts swirled in her mind but none influenced her
facial features. What did he think of the murderer before him?
She sighed and looked away.
"We need to be going," she said beneath her breath as she
started to untie the reigns of the horse.
#Post#: 381109--------------------------------------------------
Re: Arranged Marriage
By: Renegade Date: December 28, 2014, 3:42 pm
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She was quick on her feet, covering up their escape quickly, but
Jasper knew that it wouldn't be enough. They were blocking that
particular path because they knew where they were going. With a
heavy sigh, Jasper turned around and followed Princess. Allowing
his horse to drink aside hers, He took a seat on the ground.
There were many things to consider; How to face his mother.
Whether or not his father played a role. What effect all of this
would have on his relationship with Essie, and what about the
man that she had killed? Could he really just ignore that?
He listened to her words about her father. She was probably
right. Both of them had resisted. their arranged marriage from
the beginning. It would surely look like they had called some
sort of truce in order to convince him to call it off.
Essie was right. They needed to be prepared. But how? Jasper
could use the Divine Tongue spell if they found the assassin
before he struck. But that would leave him defenseless if his
mother had a contingency plan. his head raised as he thought of
a legend he had heard once, but the chances of being able to
pull it off were virtually zero. They needed something more
reliable. Once the horses were rested, they made their way back
toward the Palace. After all, they had a dance to learn...
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