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#Post#: 406311--------------------------------------------------
Anarchy
By: Renegade Date: March 7, 2016, 10:44 am
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This chapter actually should have started several posts back,
but oh well!
Nobody saw Essie's assault on Jasper's backside, but the sound
was enough to turn a few heads. Nonetheless, Jasper returned the
favor, grabbing a handful without shame. "Anytime, love." If
only it were true. In a week they would be back home, and who
knew when they'd get another vacation! After an investigation
into the mysterious explosions, and buying up a few tons to
transport home, They made their way back to the Inn.
Over the next week, Jasper and Essie would continue to have a
blast, but they would also continue to hear rumors of the group
of Anarchists back home. It was both a shame, and an eager
necessity for them to get back on that ship, and head home.
There was a lot to do. Upon their arrival, Jasper immediately
set up a meeting with the remaining Advisors to get up to date
on the situation.
It was explained that, since the wedding, there had been a small
group of rebels, attempting to spread the message of "Down with
the current monarch."Though they spoke of both the King and the
Queen, it seemed that Essie was of a greater focus than Jasper.
They didn't seem to be of any particular threat, as not many
were rallying to their cause. Jasper and Essie had already
gained the admiration of the Kingdom with the downfall of
Jasper's mother. But there would always be a handful who were
unhappy. All in all, it seemed these "anarchists" were of no
real threat.
Taking comfort in their words, Jasper thanked the Advisors, and
escorted Essie back to their room. Realizing the ride back to
the Kingdom was the last day and a half of peace they would get,
the two had barely gotten a wink of sleep...
#Post#: 406339--------------------------------------------------
Re: Anarchy
By: guest1220 Date: March 8, 2016, 3:45 pm
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The advisors put to rest some of her fears. There was no real
threat with the group growing as far as they knew. Essie doubted
that they would try to do anything extreme without more numbers
first. It soured her mood, but at least she knew all would be
okay for another day.
She slept soundly in spite of everything. It was amazing how
Jasper's presence was enough to extinguish any lingering
concerns. When they arrived at the kingdom, it was exactly as
they had left it. The towers of the castle loomed over them with
distinctive, cold brick spines. She had grown up in a castle and
gotten used to the large intimidating architecture, but after
spending time away from the kingdom enticed a different emotion
upon looking up at the building. Foreboding.
She settled back in her seat, lost in her thoughts. It was not
long before someone was at her door, escorting her out of the
carriage and into the castle. She walked alongside Jasper, but
they hardly got a chance to say farewell before people whisked
them into different directions. All of the work they had put off
for the duration of their vacation had been waiting on their
return.
The first week back was filled with nothing but work. Essie
hardly saw a glimpse of Jasper. But, after the week, they were
able to get some quality time alone together. There was much
pressure on her to produce an heir, but she was not worried
about it. They had plenty of time.
One night, she was sitting in her study when a knock broke the
silence. Before she could answer, Ayla strolled in as annoyingly
beautiful as always. It had been in vain to hope that she had
managed to fall off a cliff during their leave. Essie placed the
pen down on her desk and gave Ayla her attention.
"What can I do for you?" Essie asked as Ayla came to stand in
front of her desk.
Ayla wore a smile of mischief descent. It was smug, but Essie
knew it was only worn to hide the state of pain Ayla was in.
Ayla's little finger twitched against her dress as she glanced
down at her paperwork.
"The trade route from France is being blocked by a group of
rebels," Ayla said, eyes flickering back up to seize Essie up
within her spheres.
Essie frowned and sorted through the paperwork on her desk. She
noticed a few that mentioned trade routes, but nothing about the
rebels.
"I don't have anything on the matter. What is your source?"
Essie asked.
Ayla shrugged. "Just a cart of a couple dead men where silk was
supposed to be."
Essie sighed. However small the group may be, they were going to
be a nuisance to deal with. "This is Jasper's jurisdiction, not
mine. Why come to me?"
Ayla pursed her lips and folded her arms over her chest. "How do
you hope to make up for your time here? Your kingdom needs you,
or have you forgotten?"
Essie nodded, understanding her reason for coming to her now.
"And you think you're a better option."
It wasn't a question. It was a truthful statement that everyone
was aware of.
Ayla toyed with the paperweight on Essie's desk as she replied,
"there are those who wish to see you dethroned. It is apparent
that your loyalties lie here with your king."
"And where do your loyalties lie, Ayla?" Essie countered. "Since
you can't have Jasper, you want my crown?"
Ayla frowned, pinning her down with a glare. "The crown was
never meant to be yours."
Essie stood up then and walked around the desk so that they were
standing face to face. "I don't owe you anything. If you want
the crown, you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands."
Essie had had enough out of her envious sister. The kingdom
would suffer with Ayla as a queen.
Ayla bowed her head, mocking a respectful gesture. "Long live
the queen."
With that, she turned and left Essie standing alone in the room.
#Post#: 406564--------------------------------------------------
Re: Anarchy
By: Renegade Date: April 3, 2016, 12:11 pm
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The first week back was a nightmare! Both Jasper and Essie spent
the entire week making up for the time that they were gone. And
during downtime, Jasper was usually out overseeing the
construction of the new palace. That entire area of the kingdom
had once been a forest, avoided by people. But it had been
blocked off so that the palace could be built, and once it was
done, a village would be built in the surrounding areas. It was
the project that would define Jasper's reign, so if Jasper
wasn't around, that was usually where he could be found. The
land had been cleared and leveled, and they were already working
on the foundation for the palace. It's construction would take a
year at a minimum. But Jasper wanted to be a part of every step.
Exhaustion was an understatement, to say the least.
Due to his extended workload, many issues that would usually
fall into his hands were delegated to a small staff he had
organized. He intentionally avoided putting additional work on
Essie, who already had a significant workload. They seldom made
it to bed at the same time, and one usually awoke before the
other. Jasper made a habit of leaving notes and small gifts for
Essie, promising they would spend more time together once they
caught up on everything. He stayed on top of everything that
came in and out of the palace, but there was one incident he
didn't get word of, and it very well may have been the most
important of them all.
#Post#: 406586--------------------------------------------------
Re: Anarchy
By: guest1456 Date: April 6, 2016, 9:40 am
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Time had seemed to pass an agonizingly slow pace. It had only
been a mere month since she returned home, yet it seemed like an
eternity. The small gifts and notes Jasper left behind before
returning to his work, were what kept her going. At the end of
the fourth week, there seemed to be light at the end of the
tunnel.
On her desk was no paper that needed signed or document that
needed approval. The only thing on it was a halfway filled
goblet of wine. It seemed that for now everything was finished.
Just as she was beginning to believe she would get a full
night's sleep, a knock came at the door. She was tempted to turn
away the knocker and get back to her glass of wine, but then
that was not how a queen's job worked. A servant came in holding
a letter with a black seal. She did not recognize the seal, but
took it anyways and dismissed the servant. It was from her
uncle. The note went into detail about a disturbance. It was not
a huge threat, but it sounded similar to the they had heard of
while on their trip.
She decided to deliver the news to Jasper herself. It would give
her an excuse to see her husband.
At his door, she knocked and waited for his answer before
entering.
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