675-06-02 - Father and Daughter
| Father and Daughter | |||||||
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| Summary: King Barret has a talk with Princess Barbeta, after she has returned from the Isles | |||||||
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The Nymph of Aliara had arrived by early morning, returned after over a month to the harbor of Equis. The travel had proved unremarkable, and was luckily enough not troubled by any pirates nor by any storms. The ship had been greeted by a delegation of Duke Herrik Lenouvi, providing the noble passengers with the invitation to stay for a few days at Castle Equitaine to rest and recover from the sea voyage, if they would be inclined to do so. Also the presence of the King was mentioned. He had come all the way from Beresgond to await the return of those sent to the Isles, as one particular daughter of his had been among them.
When those of higher birth arrive at the castle, a servant will approach Princess Barbeta, asking her to follow him up to the Solar, right away. It seems the King feels reluctant to show himself at once to all of those returning, he will be there at the official greeting later in the Great Hall, probably. And after all, this is not his castle, but that of Duke Herrik. Certain sensitivities and customs need to be respected. And after all, King Barret is not as young as he was. Which does show, occasionally.
When Barbeta enters the Solar, she will find her father in conversation with a retainer. Barret Brais may look a bit weary, the lines in his face bear witness to the years gone by and the burden of his duties, that has grown immensely in the recent three years. His attire devoid of any adornment, a simple tunic in red, with the coat of arms of House Brais, the Castle with Two Towers, and breeches of black colour. His head, for now, not emburdened with the crown of Two Rivers, as he only wears that on very official occasions.
Barbeta Brais is wearing one of these very comfortable gowns, not one of her posh ones. The dress falls across the form of her body, but does not become too wide at the end, not it reaches the ground. Differently, the gown is tied with the belt around the girl's waist and is kept just perfect for the run, if needed. Also, the dress is black. Barbeta does not wear other colors except black and silver.
Silver ribbon ties her dark curls into a very comfortable ponytail, leaving just a few strands to fall on her pale features. Her dark eyes find the father and fill with concern. The young girl offers a very deep curtsy, "My Royal Father... Forgive me for such an attire. Travel by ship is very uncomfortable and I didn't want to ruin my best dresses. It is way more comfortable to move in such a dress on the deck. Especially, if the storm would have caught us..."
Then the girl straightens and paces closer to her father. She is not smiling at all. Likely, the girl never grew up knowing how to smile. However, the glinting in her eyes speaks of such feelings as missing her father, loving the old man or similar. Though, mostly she looks just worried. Likely, because of all the troubles in his Kingdom, the King looks even older than he is for his own daughter, "How have you been, Father?" Barbeta asks.
Barret looks up when Barbeta enters and he rises to his feet, a wave given to his retainer, who will move off on some errand, after offering the Princess the required bow. The King will smile however, and that weary look to his eyes will diminish, as he takes a step towards his daughter, his arms soon wrapping about her as he gives her an affectionate hug, whether she allows it or not. The King is a bear of a man, however, the strength applied to his arms is adjusted to the slender frame of the frail princess. "Barbeta...", he speaks in a low grumble. "I am glad you're back."
He will release her from the hug now, as he takes a step backwards to study her intently. "How was the journey? And... how was your stay on the Isles?", the King inquires with a gentle smile, before he shrugs at her question. "Oh, there has been a little trouble up North, as usual. I have sent some troups there, to help Duke Solinus out, but... I feel that won't be enough in the long run."
Barbeta will give her father a warm hug. The King will learn that his daughter is quite strong, even if she looks fragile. She will squeeze her father from all the strength she has, before letting him move backwards.
When she hears his questions and remarks, the young girl's mien will become even darker and more sad. Barbeta lowers her head and whispers, "I am sorry, father... I tried to do something, but it looks like the Two Rivers didn't show for the Isles as a very good guests..."
The girl sighs and continues, "Well, first of all, their Queen was gone. The Regent said, that she can make all the alliances and everything. Though, nobody reached her. The Queen was doing some kind of a very urgent business elsewhere. Well, one of our men won the tournament. He became the citizen of the Isles. Actually, the lord of some kind of Island and married a noble girl. But it is more his personal achievemnt, I would say."
She peeks at her father before continuing, "Though, three people from our delegation were lost and they went into Piradin. This city has a very bad reputation. We were warned about it. However, soon after that a very important thing was stolen from the Royal Chapel. Most of the evidences were pointing at us. Moreover, one woman was found on the scene of a murder. She was from our delegation too. Rumors said, that the Isles had a very good evidence against her. However, it looks like the Regent got some kind of a letter from us. It had to be Lord Ralph or Lord Alajos. I didn't see the letter, but I heard rumors, that the letter threatened the Isles with the war or something like that. So, the Regent asked us to be gone from the Isles in two days. But then the Queen came back. She allowed us to stay and start negotiations again. So, the Lord Ralph is still there and I have no idea, how everything will end up."
The girl lowers her head even more, "I am sorry, father, I was not there to protect our good name..."
A good-natured chuckle leaves the depths of King Barret's chest when he feels that squeeze. "Oh, Barbeta. You are not going to squeeze all air out of me, are you?" A jest, certainly, but the sparkle in his eyes betrays he is grateful for the distraction from his daily worries. "Sit down, little one," he says as he resumes his seat from before, on one of those comfortable chairs. "I believe we will be provided with refreshments soon enough."
King Barret will listen to Barbeta's account next, his bushy eyebrows furrowing here and there, but remaining silent until she is done. "The Queen was absent? How odd," he comments then, "and one of ours won? What is his name?" Then frowning a touch he'll add: "A theft? A murder? Who is this woman? The letter, if it did indeed threaten with war does not sound like Lord Ralph's doing. I'd think him too prudent for such an audacious move." And a hint of amusement becomes visible in his eyes. "So... the Queen's back and negotiating with him? Sounds like everything is in the best order then."
The retainer returns with a flagon of Athereyne Red and two goblets. He will pour the two Royals, before he retreats to a place at the wall.
A blush decorates young girl's features, "I am very sorry, father, but... I am not sure about the names of these people. I don't think, that I met them. Well, the knight is quite handsome one, not a noble birth at all, but his fighting abilities were amazing..." The blush deepens on Barbeta's cheeks, but one shake of her head is enough to take all this away and the girl becomes very serious one more time, "If he married the lady according to the traditions of the isles, we just lost a very capable knight."
Then the drinks arrive, the girl takes her goblet in her pale hands. She whirls that thing between her fingers, but does not take a sip, "The woman is a healer, I heard. Oh, there were some rumors, that this healer spent a lot of time alone with Lord Baldwin. However, he was badly injured, I believe, after that sneaking into Piradin. I asked him, why he went there, because we were warned not to go there. He said it was an accident..." Barbeta sighs and looks at her father one more time.
"I... I was trying to make some contacts with the Prince from Estoria..." That rosy blush comes back into her cheeks, "Though, he looked quite arrogant, I would say. He was late into the opening feast. I believe, it was one of these late arrivals, when someone wants to make a big deal out of it, you know. You come late, you walk through the Great Hall and everyone is staring at you. However, the prince was more interested in that scary pale princess of the Isles. Can you imagine? Her skin is the color of snow! Her hair is the color of milk. She looks all very dangerously sweet, but..." The girl rolls her eyes, "Maybe it was that tiny princess of the Golden Lion. I don't remember, actually! And... do you know, that the Queen has a son, who has a slave girl... They were acting improperly during the feast. That was quite a view!"
Barbeta lowers her gaze to the goblet, "Talking about slaves... I hated it. I really hated seeing the girls in collors. So, I talked with one of the merchants. He told me, that I can buy a slave girl and she would become my property. I could release her! So, I bought a young slave girl, but made her my handmaiden. She is free now, but works for me... I hope that is alright?" The girl peeks at her father, biting her bottom lip nervously.
"Is that so? Oh, Barbeta. You need to learn to pay attention to these facts...", Barret mutters, looking a bit dispappointed when his daughter fails to remember the name of the knight that won the tourney and will be lost for them. The moment of indignation is short, however, as he chuckles softly when she continues. "It is odd you should remember the name of Sir Baldwin Ivounel, Barbeta. But probably because of the gossip, relating to this healer? You women are all alike, eager for gossip and romantic tales and such, while other important facts," he lets out a sigh, "do seem to escape your notice. So. This incident at Piradin... What exactly happened there, that would have Sir Baldwin get injured? If you remember, that is." Clearly teasing the Princess now. She has been sorely missed, obviously.
The King leans back in his chair, taking a sip from his goblet of wine, rolling his eyes as Barbeta continues with more gossip. "The prince of Estoria? Did you speak with him at all?" That being the fact that interests him more than any description of princesses of any kind. Again, the glance he shoots Barbeta may appear a bit impatient. But that expression fades when she brings forth what apparently concerns her the most.
"You did what? Bought a slave? Released her?" He raises his eye brows, before he nods, looking impressed. "That was a noble thing to do, Barbeta. I am proud of you. From where does she hail? And does she have a name? She must be very grateful to you."
Barbeta keeps her head lowered and chews on her lip, while the King gives all that lecture about the attention. She raises goblet of wine and takes a tiny sip of it, before peeking at the King one more time.
"Oh!" The girl becomes more confident, when her father finally gives her a question to which she has an answer, "Well, he said, that he was just wandering in the woods. He lost his way and appeared in the Piradin. He was ready to go back, when he noticed two other men of our delegation fighting with some islanders. So, Sir Baldwin got into all that fight too." She playfully rolls her eyes and adds, "All men are the same. Wine and fights!"
However, the thoughts about the Prince makes her disappointed again, "I didn't... He was teasing me, I believe. Just because I took a seat beside Lady Sirelle instead of the royal table! That is so silly. I mean... Why anyone needs that special table as if others are not important guests?" The girl shakes her head and takes quite a gulp of wine nervously.
However, the joy and pride comes back, when her father praises Barbeta for buying the slave, "Oh! She is from Unknown World lands, which hide behind the borders of the land of sand... She doesn't know our lnguage well. But I am teaching her."
Barret smiles when he senses Barbeta's eagerness to give an answer. He frowns again when she speaks of Baldwin's fate. "So? Again you leave half of the story out. Sir Baldwin got into a fight, and helped two commoners? What were the consequences? He was injured, but what about those islanders...? Barbeta." He shrugs and takes a sip from his goblet. Someone mentioned wine?
Until now the King has appeared to be quite amused though. It is when his daughter speaks about her pick of table at the feast, that he looks a bit angry. "Barbeta! You did what? The Royal table is intended for those of Royal birth. Not to sit down at it, is an insult to the hosts! How can you be surprised the Prince was teasing you, as you call it, when you more or less disregarded what is expected at court?" Simply nodding to what she has to say about the new handmaiden, but certainly in less of a humor now to comment on that particular story.
"Father!" The girl rolls her eyes, "The Priestess was sitting on the Queen's throne! There was no royal delegation from the Estoria seen around. As I said, that prince was late and made that silly late entrance to make a big deal out of it! I hate arrogant people and you know that! Moreover, there were princesses from Isles and from the Golden Lion. They are just sixteen years old! What I could do with them? One Prince of the Isles was always staring at that one from the Golden Lion. Another was all kissing with the slave and drunk! I would never sit in such company!"
She places the goblet on the table and clasps her hands on her abdomen.
The King lets out a sigh. "Barbeta. You were representing the Two Rivers! And now you really probably came across like a spoiled child! You accuse them of arrogance? Really, Barbeta, I would have expected more from you." A sad smile appears when she mentions the age of the other princesses. "You are not that much older, really." And he shakes his head, looking suddenly very weary again. The cup of wine is emptied and put onto the table before him, and after a moment his ire seems to subside. "Maybe I've expected too much of you.", he adds after a moment, the tone gentle again. "I am glad you returned safely though, Barbeta."
The girl's eyes widen and she stands up, offering a deep curtsy for her father, "You did not expect too much of me, father. You will be proud of me, I promise. The time will come!" She grins, glancing at the old man, and adds, "If you will excuse me, my Royal father, I would like to get some rest now. Tomorrow will be a better day. You will see!"
Barret rises as well, a weary smile curving his lips upwards. "My daughter. I am sure you will make me proud one day. But until then, you'll have to learn a big deal about foreign relations..." A hug is offered to her in goodbye, before he resumes his seat from before. Probably awaiting the next of the delegation to speak to.
