675-05-10 - What Happened
What Happened | |||||||
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Summary: Baldwin receives more visitors, a princess and his sister this time. | |||||||
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It is early morning on the day that follows after the incident at Piradin. Baldwin is in his room at the Deave Inn. And even if he still rests on his bed, he has already dressed, choosing a comfortable attire of green tunic and black breeches. Any bandages for now not visible, but hidden beneath the clothes he wears. The knight looks a bit pale, yet he is able to receive visitors. He has in fact already received some, late last night. A healer and a duke of the Two Rivers. After that he has gotten a few hours of uneasy sleep.
Livessa had gone to fetch some water for the nursemaids just to get some air it would seem. She comes back with a vat of water in her hands, she sets on a nearby table "Baldwin?" she asks trying to see if he is coherent for a conversation
The knock on the door can be heard, but it does not wait for the permision to enter. The doors are opened and the guard behind it is almost in time to announce about the royal arrival, when Barbeta bursts in as a gust of wind.
She is wearing a spotless black and slim fitting gown, that excels in simplistic elegance, with the waist and bust tightened in by a lean, black corset, who's darkness matches the dress so well that it barely stands out. Wound about the ribs of the corset are a few lengths of slim silver cord, crossing the front in an upper and lower diamond pattern, and finishing in a pair of long, dangling tassels which reach almost to her slipper shod feet. While wearing the dress, her slim arms can fit into the sleeves of a long, sheer black flowing mantle, that trails along the ground behind her, but she doesn't always wear it. The glimmering silver of the dress makes Barbeta's white skin seem to glow with inner spirit and light.
The princess does not offer a curtsy at all. She just looks over the knight and his sister, clasping her hands on her lap. However, the handmaiden and her guard, of course, offers a proper greeting.
"Why?" the princess voice whispers, "Why Two Rivers? Why in Piradin? Can't we just..." She inhales deeply, "What happened?"
Baldwin looks sufficiently coherent, given the circumstances. After all he is awake, although he apppears pale and and tired. As his gaze finds his sister he'll incline his head in silence, at first. A troubled look entering his gaze as the memories of lasts night's events return, as his jaw sets. "Sister," he'll greet Livessa after a moment, smiling despite his current slightly worried state. "It is good to see you."
It is when there is that knock on the door that Baldwin's head turns, and seeing who it is that enters, he'll instinctively try to rise to his feet, before he winces, as a wave of pain conquers his body. "Your... highness." Offered through gritted teeth as the knight remains where he is, sitting on his bed. The question has him lower his grey-blue eyes for a moment, before he replies, in a clear voice: "It... was all an accident, you highness."
Livessa looks to the Princess as she also raises, her hands folded slightly before her. She dose not raise her eyes to look at the lady. Her attention on her brother. She was going to say something but has stopped mid sentance as the royal enters and her brother starts an explanation.
"An accident?" The princess rolls her eyes. She gestures towards the man in his bed, "My lord, you call this an accident? We do not have time for such accidents!" She wraps her own hands around waist and turns away. The young woman starts walking from one side of the room to another.
"You must be wandering in the castle..." She drawls, "Around the Deavel. We came here to find reasons, possibilities to make alliances. That is why my father added you to this delegation. Not to bleed. He hoped, that your keen eyes, good ears and impressive... Doesn't matter. What matters, tell me exactly, what happened. I want to know each detail. I believe, the question will be raised if all this is the fault of islanders or us," the girl sighs and waves for her handmaiden to come closer.
The handmaiden, as already knowing what the princess wants, comes closer and leans to clean the chair with the corner of her own dress. Then the chair is all dusted and perfectly clean, Barbeta takes a seat, turning to Baldwin and his sister.
When princess' gaze finds Livessa, the princess becomes a little bit more soft. She offers a warm smile, "Good day, dear, how is your staying in the Isles? Have you visited the gardens? They have so many wonderful flowers! Have you visited the Royal Chapel? They allow all nobles from other kingdoms to visit it. Just to learn more about the Onimoria. They have some drawings and books there, which are 675 years old! If you was not there, we must visit it together later."
But then Barbeta's stern gaze finds Baldwin again.
Baldwin's grey-blue eyes shift from his sister as she offers that curtsey to the princess, to Barbeta. "Forgive me, your highness. I will give you that explanation you've requested." He sighs. "I had taken the opportunity to explore the woods. After a while, I fear I have gotten quite lost, so when I intended to return to this city, I took the wrong exit. Which led me to the village - Piradin it is called, as I heard. I would have turned back to the woods immediately, had it not been, that I noticed an Two Rivers acquaintance there. Master Ottis Penderghast. He was being threatened by three lowly creatures." He coughs. "Also Master Marcus was there. We more or less came to the help of Master Ottis. But then more armed men appeared."
Livessa looks to the princess as she mentiones alliances "A lord here has expressed intrest in courtship, I told him he must ask my brothers permission M'lady" she says quietly offering what little she knows to the princess. "The stay has been nice.." she agrees then she giggles to her brother "and you thought I would get in trouble before you".. she says lowly
"Commoner..." drawls Barbeta, "I see..." She smoothes the fabric of her gown and stands up, "If we will come to help for each troublemaker commoner, the nobles will be found dead before sunrise. We were warned about that city. There was three or maybe four roads, and you just happened to chose the Piradin's. Alright, and accident. I do hope, my lord, that you will avoid such accident later. As I do hope to see more cooperation between people of kingdoms. Not the fights and blood."
The Princess turns back to the lady and becomes very sweet one more time, "Courtship? Some kind of a lord wants you hands? Is that lord is from the isles? Well... Very well, procceed. But do not forget to discuss all these courtships with our ambasador. We do not want useless marriages to happen, yes?" She smiles and walks closer tot he doors, "Be well and out of accidents, please!" Then the princess walks out.
Baldwin coughs again, when he hears Livessa's remark about a possible courter. "Is that so?", he inquires with one brow raised, as he shoots her a glance. "When did that happen? Who is it? And..." he frowns, "how come I have not heard about it so far." A dark look is shot her way, before the knight shifts his attention back to the princess.
"I could hardly let him die, could I?", he inquires, a bit indignantly perhaps. "And we defended ourselves well enough. I killed one, and wounded another severely, your highness. After all, they attacked us first. And while I regret what has happened,... I feel I would not act differently, should this happen again." He inclines his head when Barbeta departs. "Your highness." Before his grey-blue gaze comes to linger on Livessa again. "So?"
Livessa looks to her brother, "well...." she says slowly "you did hear..your guard was bribed to loose me, did you not?" she laughs "its hard for anyone to really court with them following me. They were not bribable or looseable no matter how he tried, he did not seem as good as our hunters".
Seemingly not as amused by the story as Livessa, Baldwin will shake his head, looking quite displeased. "Any man who will take such actions - bribe the guards? I mean,... how can anyone do such a thing? - any such man is not worthy of your hand." Said with some finality. "And I am glad they were not agreeing to be bribed! Good men I chose to watch over you, Livessa. Do not attempt to shake them off. EVER." Another glare is shot in his sister's direction before he leans back again with a deep sigh. "I did not mean to cause this mess. I really didn't." Commenting on his own dilemma, obviously.
Livessa smiles softly actually pleased he did cause it, she rolls her shoulders "i cant have any fun with them following me!" she says folding her arms lightly before poking his side "besides... the Princess herself told me i should allow him to." she says with a shake of her head before she leans into look at his wounds. "What is done is done my brother, what are you going to do in followup?" Barbeta has disconnected.
"Oh... careful!" Baldwin objects, when Livessa pokes his side - luckily the better one, without the wound. "Wait... I still have the final word on this, sister, while we are here in the Isles. The Princess..." his forehead wrinkles a bit. "... she may be wed herself, and is looking for a match probably. I would not think she has the authority to allow you to slip from your guards. Even if she is royalty." He shrugs at her question. "I have no idea, actually. I'll have to wait on any reaction from the Isles, although I am ready to defend myself, if this indeed will cause more stirrings."
Livessa nods her head slightly bemused. "do you need anything?" she asks him looking worried even if she was bantering him a moment ago
The expression in Baldwin's eyes softens a bit when Livessa asks if he needs anything. "Not at the moment, but thank you, sister. One of the healers will check on me later," he assumes. "Maybe I should try to get some sleep. And... Livessa, you know, I have to be so strict with guards and handmaidens watching over you. We both know you need to be protected against your own whims at times, don't we?" A deep sigh leaves his throat. "Any scandal involving you would kill father - after he would have killed me, for allowing it to happen."
Livessa looks to her brother "what if the Lord who takes me as his wife wants a scandalous lady?" she asks as she looks to you and she grins softly "I heard you won some ladies attentions as well... i hope this little thing did not ruin your chance.
Baldwin just shakes his head. "No scandalous lady, Livessa. Grow up. What you do after being wed may be upto your future husband, but until then, be careful. Most do not want a wife of doubtable repute." Her next remark has him shoot her a glance, that may appear both surprised and alarmed. "Some ladies' attentions? Really? Didn't know that." An uneasy chuckle follows, as he lays back on the bed again, slipping beneath that blanket most carefully. There is a certain slightly irritated grumpiness to his voice though when he continues: "I don't think I am danger of being married soon, you know... I still need to prove my worth." And there, that slightly worried frown appears again on his face, before he closes his eyes. "Sis...", is muttered, and then he is already asleep.