675-08-30 - Forest Secrets
Forest Secrets | |||||||
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Summary: Barbeta meets with the leader of the Nothern Barbarians, the results are a bit of a surprise and a major plan. | |||||||
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It had taken several days for the pair, and they traded one forest for another. Since crossing the border the tall man, had been on higher alert then even in the Dark Forest. He had finished teaching Esther his language over the past week since her message was sent and now they were at the rendezvous point. He had told her the Patrician, the Ningo king, would be here as they scouted ahead and the tall man would ensure Esther arrived safely.
The man was dressed to impress, wearing his full, distinctive armor. He also had a three foot sword sheathed on his left hip and a two foot sword sheathed on his right hip. Draped around him was the pelt of a very large wolf, so large in fact the hind quarters of the animal had to be removed so it didn't drag along the ground, an impressive trait given the man himself is nearly six and a half feet tall. The forelimbs of the wolf are cross over the man's chest, with a cloak pin made of bone holds his cloak in place, while the head of the animal acts as a hood. Surprisingly the cloak's lining seems to be made of a reddish silk. He stands at the meeting place, scanning the area for threats and the Princess Esther serves, or the 'Principessa' as the Ningo call them.
Barbeta had a long journey. She is more dressed for hunting, than to impresse someone, but Princess is quite impressive, no matter how she will be dressed up. True beauty! So, her gown, which nicely fits at the bodice and has a waistline that leads to a full skirt is decorated with dark brown corset made out of leather. The high rising collar at the back of neckline that sculpts low across the chest bares the girl's pale skin, where modest silverly necklace is dangling. Barbeta covers her shoulders with a long cloak color of the flora around - dark green. She keeps the hood pushed over her features, that nobody would recognize her. Also, the girl is carring the bow and some arrows herself. There are two guards and handmaid - exotic beauty from the Kingdom of Golden Lion behind her. However, her guards look a bit allarmed. They are trying to speak with barebta, but she gives no reaction to them as if they wouldn't exist. When the girl finally notices her most trusted ally - Esther, she stops her Dragon and slides down. The same is done by her escort to whom Barbeta orders to stay near their studs. The princess herself moves forward. She raises her pale hands to push the hood down, showing off these just perfect flawless features of a young royal beauty. She keeps her hair tress, but decorated with wonderfully made tiny silverly flowers. Each of her steps are filled with grace and elegance. She looks over the strangers, before stopping near handmaid, "Esther..." She says, smilling and even extaning her arms for the hug. Esther smiles back at Barbeta and offers her a deep curtsy, before hugging the Princess tightly. Then she withdraws and gestures towards the man beside, "Agostino. He will speak for their people,I guess. Princess, I learned their language as you ordered. I can translate almost everything!" "I knew you will do that, Esther," Barbeta smiles, before turning to the man she is introduced to. The girl offers polite nod of her head, "I am Barbeta." She says.
Agostino looks to the guards and the handmaiden quietly, perhaps curious, perhaps on guard. Though given the size of the wolf pelt he is wearing they might not stand much chance against him if he killed the animal himself. His dark eyes shift to Barbeta as she speaks, he then says something in his native language, eyes shifting between the princess and her entourage.
Esther listens for the words of Agostino and her eyes widen a bit. She nervously tugs on her own sleeves, what makes Barbeta be worried a bit. The princess glances from Esther to Agostino, back to Esther, "What did he say? What?" Esther enrvously scratches the back of her head, before sneezing from the cold she got and speaking, "He said, to tell you, that the Patrician of the Ningo people, Agostino of Family Cornelia has come to hear the terms of your proposed alliance by marriage..." Barbeta ahs, "So, he is their leader?" She curiously looks over the man, bitting her lip playfully. The man could obviously see, that the young girl likes,what she sees. Then Barbeta explains, "Tell the man, that he himself has to travel with me and you to meet my father. Maybe he can send someone, but it may be better if it will be him. He should dress as normal man and travel with me to ask my hand from my father, promissing the alliance. They both will be able to agree on better terms, but... We have to have one child, boy with the name of House of Brais born to us. As soon as possible. He would become the heir of our Kingdom and if my father will die and our child will be still young, I may become regent. Tell him, that we can promise the trade agreements, he will be allowed to marry royla blood,after all, we will acknowledge them as a Kingdom and Nation, as a part of Felaguria. He will be able to contact other Kingdoms through us. And most important, I myself promise him, that together we will take over the other Kingdoms, if our child will be the new King... Tell him all this.." Esther nods, and then starts slowly, as good as she can, to give the words of the Princess to the man.
Agostino frowns slightly as the terms are named. Once done he responds with a bit of a long-winded reply to the Princess' terms.
Esther sighs and tells to Princess, "He says exatcly this: You told me our children would be taking my name, now she wishes me to agree to them taking her's? Perhaps neither of you understand. By Ningo customs the child takes the name of the dominate parent. You said she requested this match, that would make me the dominate parent and the children would have my name. Yet to ask her father means she would be the dominate parent and the children would take her name. Part of the reason I came was that my people would gain new lands through an alliance where our children would carry and Ningo name, to show my people we are not slaves. Your Princess now demands I compromise this?" Barbeta shakes her head, "Tell him, that when two different cultures are trying to sign an alliance through marriage, we can't follow the traditions of just one family. It is impossible and the alliance will fail. I do understand, that they have traditions. But also, we have our own traditions. The child, who won't have the name of Brais will never rule our Kingdom of Two Rivers. He doesn't have to marry me, if he is so brave. Tell him, that on our side, we have 3 other kingdoms. Our army is nine times bigger than his or maybe even more. We are strong four nations, united nations. I am standing here and offering him a chnace to become a part of a rich and glorious world. He will die,dragging his people after him, without me. He will rule with me. But for that, he must agree with me. I will take his surname, and I will bring him many children. However, our first born son must be named Brais. He must take my surname,if we want to have our blood on the throne of Two Rivers. Other children will have his name..." Esther sighs, sneezes, rubs her a bit tired eyes, caughs a bit,and then translates.
Agostino cocks his head slightly and says something to Esther. After a few moments he then seems to give his reply to the attempted compromise.
Esther leans against the tree a bit, transalting some more, "The man says: You take the family name of the one you wed? Odd custom. With the Ningo its the children that take the name of the parent, one does not take the name of their spouse, otherwise I'd have the name of my first wife. Even if she is now dead. Firstly you do not know how many I command, even with the help of your allies are you so certain your kingdom would hold out against my forces before they could arrive? I know well how weakened your kingdom is of late. As to a compromise very well, I will consent to our first son having the name Brais, I will not ask for you in marriage however, to do so forfeits our children taking my name. If your culture require you to take my family's name, then so be it, though I do not personally require this." Barbeta frowns slightly, "Alright, tell him, that I can not take his surname. I don't need it. I will be Brais, our first born son will be Brais,other children will have his name, but I can't marry him. Our tradition is very strong. The man must ask the hand of a woman. It's wrong the other way. That is why he must speak with my father, but for his own culture, he is able to say, that I asked marriage and he will be dominant. I do not care much about it. Though, Esther, skip that part about not caring," Barbeta chuckles and then straightens, "I am sure, that we would win against him, just because I am sure, that we will have very strong allies. We have them already, but if he won't marry me, my father will marry meoff to Estorian or someone from Golden Lion. Then we will have so much money, so much more men. He can risk if he wishes and disagre with me." Esther nodnods to her princess and then works on translating some more. However, this time she adds from herself, "We respect your traditions. However, we can't break that one rule. My princess won't be allowed to marry you, if you won't speak with her father. Nothing will be changed. You just need to travel there, and speak with her father about more exact terms of alliance. You will be able to say, that it was Barbeta's idea to marry you. That means, she was the one to offer. Just... you must sign treaty with her father. Just the part about ruling the world together and overtaking the throne from others... That part should be kept in silence for now. So, I offer, if I may, not to miss the chance..."
Agostino is silent for several minutes, clearly thinking before he finally responds in calm, calculated fashion. He then looks to Esther to translate.
Esther's smile widens, when she hears the words of Agostino, and she more excitedly translates for the princess, "Their leader says: To be recognized as a ruler by my people you must prove yourself worthy of it, if this coup of yours is successful that will be half of the task, the other is you must prove yourself capable of surviving. Do both and my people will treat you as one of their own, the survival mission can wait for a later date given the circumstances. You may also wish to ignore this, though if you do my people will treat you as a commoner, not as a queen so you are aware. With that said, I will agree to your terms, though I will formally ask your father the way your people do. Esther will teach me the words, my people don't know these words so they will not understand nor be told what I have said. I will personally name our first son Brais before my people. I will assume your father will not approve of this match however, what is to be done then? One final note, as this is part of a coup, I intend to add some weight to your words by wearing my Dire Wolf pelt cloak. It will appear more impressive, and if your father is as weak as I am led to believe this should put some fear in him and make him more willing to consider the match. Aside from the cloak I will wear what you say, though i will have a weapon with me, even if unseen by your people." The woman even claps at the end. Barbeta grins and straightens, "Tell him, that when we will sign the marriage contract, he will be my dear husband, whom I will love. His people will be mine. Mine people will be his. I will respect them all, and I do hope, that my husband will teach me of his traditions. I will do anything, what needs to be done. All the missions, everything!" The girl straightens and adds, "Tell him, that our journey to my father would last about three days. We shouldn't waste our time. My father doesn't know, that I am here... You can forget to mention him this last part, Esther." Barbie giggles and adds, "My father will agree with the match, which will help to avoid the war, I am sure..." Esther nodnods and quickly translates everything, skipping the needed parts.
Agostino listens and shouts something in his own language. It isn't long before a couple dozen soldiers emerge from the surrounding trees, some with bows, some with spears. He then bows his head respectfully to Barbeta and says, something more in his language to her as the other soldiers draw closer, cautious, but for the time being their weapons are lowered. Seems he brought his own entourage as well.
Esther moves closer to her Princess, when all these other people appear. She translates each word for her, "He says: I agree with your terms, our translator will teach me the required words, and we will see if your coup works. If it does you will have proven yourself worthy of leadership, if not then you have failed to do so in the eyes of my people. We will then arrange for you to be tested in survival later, if you pass that then you will prove worthy of being recognized as nobility, or royalty in this case as you will be my third wife. If you fail to survive then you will be lost or dead, either way my people will forget you. To pass both and you will be treated as a queen by my people." Barbeta just offers a polite nod for Agostino words, adding to her handmaiden, "It's not so easy to get rid of me, and I will become his only wife..." Then she whispers to Esther, "So, ask him when we can leave?" Esther nodnods and speaks a bit louder, giving that question.
Agostino nods and gives his reply as the soldiers move in around them. They are posing no threat to the three women nor Barbeta's two guards, though the guards are watched closely. Seems trust will be something that needs to be worked on in time.
The guards of Princess Barbeta are quite tense. They quickly approach their princess, when these other men show up. Likely, the guards are whispering something to the princess about how she willanger the King. However, Barbeta just keeps ignoring them. Then Esther translates other quetsions, "The man says, that we can leave, when you are ready and he is asking about clothes..." "Oooh!" barbeta drawls and suddenly remembers her guards. She looks one over, then another. She tries to check sizes. It happens, that one of her guards is as huge as the leader of Ningo. So, she points at her guard, who gives confused glance to his princess. Esther grins and says in the language of Ningo, "You will dress his clothes, light armor... Will be good. But we are not sure, if that would be good, if so many people of yours will travel. Take just some of them and keep them in the background. So, exchange clothes and we can go not raising suspicion? My princess is ready."
Agostino looks over the man's attire then back to Esther and asks something else.
Barbeta leans a bit closer to Esther and whispers to her something. Esther quickly translates, "There will be many lands without trees. It will be hard to hide, but my princess trusts your talents and she knows, that you won't make a mistake."
Agostino nods and says something to his men, as most of them turn to head back towards the north. About four remain behind and waits to follow the new gathering south.